By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Dirk Nowitzki recently reuniting with Luka Doncic was a treat for many reasons. Mainly because the retired player and current special advisor to the Dallas Mavericks joined in the ‘overrated’ chants somehow aiming to disrupt the Slovenian superstar.
Nowitzki, 44, was in attendance as his former teammate overcame the chants and powered Slovenia to the 84-81 victory versus Sweden in Stockholm. That win in the 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers strengthened the bid to clinch a berth in the final stage of the international tournament. Doncic poured 31 points in Hovet.
“I am still amazed about how good he is already,” Nowitzki told FIBA commenting on the friendly trash talk to Doncic, “Honestly. How he reads the game already at a young age. Usually, you can’t have the whole package already. On the offensive end, he doesn’t have any weaknesses. He can post, he’s got a stepback three. His passing separates him from a lot of other great scorers. The way he sees the floor, all those no-look passes. It’s just whatever you give him, he can take.”
Doncic, 33, is the franchise player at Dallas signaling the hope for an extended Playoffs run in the future. In 2011, Nowitzki was in charge on the path to the only NBA championship in team history.
“He still seems to amaze everybody. And raises his level almost every year which is impossible,” he concluded describing Doncic, “He’s the real deal.”
Back in 2018-19, they played together in Dallas as the German star’s farewell season coincided with the rookie NBA season of Doncic.
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