Why is Minnesota's WNBA team calling out supportive Mavs star Luka Doncic?
Even the staunchest supporter of the WNBA would agree that in terms of growing its fan base, the league needs all the assistance it can get. So why, when Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic offers such assistance, would the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx franchise argue?
Doncic is of course the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, won in a landslide over Atlanta runner-up Trae Young. Luka can therefore be easily perceived -- at least in a fun way -- as an "expert'' on the subject of being a Rookie of the Year ... right?
That was clearly the intention of the Dallas Wings, the WNBA team that, like the Mavs, represents DFW. It so happens that the Wings employ Arike Ogunbowale and have high hopes that she, like Luka before her, can win this league’s Rookie of the Year award at season’s end.
So, as it customary now, and polite now, and pretty cool now, Doncic positioned himself in the Mavs' weight room and was filmed in a short video in support of the Wings player.
“What’s up Arike,'' Luka says in the video. "I know you’re having a great season, so just keep pushing. I know you’re going to be the Rookie of the Year, so the best of luck to you.”
Who could have a problem with that? The Minnesota Lynx have a problem with that. Besides obviously wanting to tout their own players for awards, the Minnesota team's Twitter feed stirred it up by insulting Doncic as, essentially, a fake supporter of the Wings.
It was pointed out to the Lynx that Doncic has indeed attended a Wings’ game, the Minny team countering by noting how many members of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves have shown up to watch the Lynx play, including Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Josh Okogie.
But that's not the point -- or, at least, shouldn't be. Whatever level of support Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Josh Okogie offer to the WNBA should be embraced. And whatever level of support Luka Doncic offers should be embraced, too. ...
And ideas that conflict with that are as bogus as a Chris Broussard "scoop'' about Mark Cuban.
