Luka Doncic came into the NBA as a European prodigy who was the best player on the basketball team of Real Madrid in Spain as they won it all in Europe. Real Madrid’s soccer side is arguably the most successful soccer team of all time, and Doncic was avidly supporting them as they faced bitter rivals FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup Finals.
Brazilian forward Vinicus Jr. scored a 38-minute hat trick in the 4-1 Madrid win, and Doncic loved it.
“Hat-trick in 40 min!”
Hat trick in 40 min 🔥🔥🔥🔥 @vinijr
— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) January 14, 2024
This is arguably the most famous rivalry in sports, as Barcelona and Real Madrid have been rivals for nearly 100 years and have been the two most dominant teams in Spain. Real Madrid has the historic edge, winning the derby 104-100 (52 draws) overall. They have been the kings of Europe in recent history, but have won only four Spanish league titles since 2009, compared to Barcelona’s nine in that same time.
The football rivalry also spills out onto the basketball side, hence why Luka continues supporting his childhood team so avidly. He’s been spotted going to Real Madrid games before and has interacted with various players as well. Barcelona Basquet features a lot of iconic players in recent memory as well, such as Nikola Mirotic, Pau Gasol, and even Luka’s current Mavericks teammate Dante Exum.
Luka Doncic Spending Time Out With Injury
Luka Doncic carried an immense load for the Mavericks through the first half of the season. With Kyrie Irving getting off to a slow start before injuries ruled him out for most of December, Doncic went superhuman to keep the Mavericks afloat in a cutthroat West. He averaged 37.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 11.1 assists as the Mavs hung onto a top-seven seed in the West.
The Mavericks have looked fierce since Kyrie’s return in January, getting wins against the likes of the Wolves and Knicks. However, they also lost unnecessary games to an almost entirely injured Grizzlies team and then to a Pelicans team without Zion Williamson and fatigued players on a brutal back-to-back. Doncic missed the Pelicans game with an ankle injury and is currently listed as doubtful for their second matchup on Monday night.
Doncic has pushed through minor injuries at various points this season, including a worrying quad issue that keeps flaring. Even though Doncic could play through his sprained ankle, the Mavericks should give him some time to recuperate. The team can win without him if Kyrie is on the court, but they need their roster healthy to maximize their chances of contention.
The team has been linked with several players in the trade market, with the Mavs being a possible destination for Pascal Siakam. The team is expected to reinforce at power forward regardless after Grant Williams’ inconsistent season. They’ve also been linked with Kyle Kuzma and Jerami Grant. With new owners who are ready to go into the luxury tax to compete, the Mavericks could be on the precipice of a new era.
None of that matters if Doncic is hurt or unhappy, so the franchise needs to find ways of maximizing their young franchise cornerstone. Doncic is averaging 33.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists this season as the Mavericks are 23-17.
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