10 Luka Doncic observations from NBA All-Star Game: Hug from Michael Jordan caps big Mavs weekend

CLEVELAND — The first of these 10 observations about Luka Doncic and the Mavericks during the 2022 NBA All-Star weekend started with a question.

Where was Doncic?

Doncic on Sunday night officially became the seventh player in NBA history to participate in three All-Star Games before turning 23, but his appearance Sunday took longer than his first two.

After finishing outside the top two in fan, player and media voting for the Western Conference backcourt, he joined Team LeBron as a reserve, not a starter.

Then, Suns coach Monty Williams subbed in all reserves except Doncic — including veteran point guard Chris Paul and his fractured right thumb and All-Star injury replacement Jarrett Allen — for the starters midway through the first quarter.

Fear not, Doncic took the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse court when Team LeBron — and its select charity — needed him most.

After Doncic entered at the 1:30 mark in the first quarter, he drilled consecutive 3-pointers in the final minute to put Team LeBron ahead, 47-45, at the end of the period and clinch $100,000 for the Kent State I Promise Scholars Program. Team LeBron won the game, 163-160.

Not bad for his 90 seconds of All-Star work.

Here are some more observations:

2. Doncic finished the showcase with eight points — matching his first two All-Star scoring totals — and three assists in 25 minutes.

He shot 3 of 6 from the field, including two 3-pointers, and improved to 3-0 on Team LeBron.

His lay-up on the last possession of the third period tied the quarter score at 45 and clinched another $50,000 for charity.

After being so dominant in scoring during the Mavericks’ run up to the break, Doncic was money in another way Sunday night.

3. Shortly before tipoff, Doncic, in his All-Star uniform, chatted and took photos with Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, in their NBA 7th Anniversary Team jackets. The three chatted and took photos in the arena before the game.

What a unique set-up for the franchise’s past and present championship hopes.

“Obviously Dirk is the one that most represents Dallas, but it’s great to have those two guys with me,” Doncic said. “I see them almost everyday but it’s great. We represent Dallas.”

4. That wasn’t Doncic’s only Hall-of-Fame interaction.

Soon after Michael Jordan was the final honoree in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team halftime presentation, he snuck up next to Doncic and gave him a big hug — all-time great to Jordan brand signee.

Doncic flashed his biggest grin of the night as Jordan shook his hand, held his shoulder and told him to stay healthy.

“That’s amazing,” Doncic said. “I just, I don’t know how to explain. That moment was just unbelievable. MJ knows my name. It’s a lot, so it was just unbelievable moment. I have no words for that.”

5. Throughout the weekend, Doncic undoubtedly had the most fun whenever he was with Nuggets MVP Nikola Jokic.

The two have similar goofy personalities and bond over their shared Serbian language and Balkan heritage. After sarcastic, brother-like banter during Saturday’s media sessions, they celebrated Jokic’s 27th birthday together at dinner.

Their friendship led some Mavericks fans on social media to speculate whether the two might one day orchestrate a move to become championship-contending teammates, especially after Doncic’s girlfriend, Anamaria Goltes, and Jokic’s wife, Natalija, posted a photo together on Instagram on Saturday,

Jokic’s current max contract will expire ahead of 2023 free agency and past superstars have pointed to All-Star interactions as the roots for future partnerships.

But, for now, consider Jokic a Giannis Antetokounmpo-like free-agency dream for Doncic fans eager for a title-contending core.

6. The Mavericks’ first championship duo shined during halftime.

In the days leading up to the 75th Anniversary Team celebration, Kidd didn’t know what to expect. “I think we’re statues at halftime,” he joked. “They roll us out and have us stand there.”

Kidd and Nowitzki did more than that. They walked down a red carpet, waved from a center stage and mingled with the scores of legends present.

7. Doncic joined them — kind of.

A few of the current All-Stars gave a short speech afterward to laud the past greats, and Doncic concluded the bit: “Congrats, and here’s to the next 75 seasons full of shining stars.”

That the 22-year-old who’s often shy to speak English took the microphone to address a sold-out arena while on national TV showed even more growth than anything he did on the court.

8. As an “ambassador” for the league’s 75th Anniversary celebrations throughout the weekend, Nowitzki had a busy schedule. Game-day responsibilities included introducing Team Durant and appearing on the TNT broadcast during the second quarter, alongside NBA Finals nemesis Dwyane Wade.

The last time Nowitzki took the mic in a sold-out arena? About six weeks ago in American Airlines Center for his jersey retirement speech.

9. Nico Harrison joined the Mavericks’ contingent in Cleveland, his first All-Star experience as a general manager, rather than as a Nike executive. “It’s a lot easier than my old job, running around everywhere,” Harrison said with a smile Saturday.

10. Utah guard Donovan Mitchell did not play Sunday because of a non-COVID upper respiratory illness, and that could be big news for the Mavericks.

Dallas’ first game back from the All-Star break is Friday night in Utah, a pivotal No. 4 vs. No. 5 clash in the West standings, the first of three between the teams before the end of March.

But first: A short breather for Doncic before the Mavericks’ stretch run.

“I’m going away for a little bit,” Doncic said, “so you guys won’t see me for the next three days.”

Where?

”I’m going to, uh, Slovenia,” he joked before hustling out of the interview room almost as fast as he ran on the court. “So if you guys want to see me, I’m going to be in Slovenia.”

All-Star-level secretive and goofy.

===

Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.