The Dallas Mavericks Should Retire Luka Doncic's Jersey Number
Doncic's seven-year tenure with the organization was spectacular
As many know by now, point guard Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, a blockbuster trade that shook the basketball world.
Even though Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks organization didn’t end things on the best terms, they should consider retiring his jersey number when his career is complete.
The Atlanta Hawks immediately traded Doncic to Dallas for Trae Young after selecting him in the 2018 NBA draft. As soon as he stepped on the hardwood, he put the NBA on notice.
During his rookie year, Doncic averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.1 steals. He became the fifth rookie in history to average at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists. He joined Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Tyreke Evans as the only rookies to reach the feat. He also recorded eight triple-doubles that season, ranking fourth behind Russell Westbrook, Nikola Jokic, and Ben Simmons.
His efforts that season helped him win the Rookie of the Year award. He joined Pau Gasol as the only European player to win the award. He also joined Jason Kidd as the second Mavericks player to win it.
The rest of Doncic’s time in Dallas was unforgettable. For the next six years, he remained in MVP conversations as he averaged a combined 30.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and 1.2 steals.
Doncic’s greatest season was the 2023-24 campaign. During that year, he was the NBA’s leading scorer with an average of 33.9 points. Along with that, he logged 9.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 1.4 steals a game.
However, his best performance took place on Jan. 26. One day after being named a Western Conference All-Star starter, he recorded a career-high 73 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists against the Atlanta Hawks. The scoring outburst made him the fourth player in NBA history to score 72 or more points in a game. It was also the most points a player scored in a game since Kobe Bryant’s 81 in 2006.
Not only did Doncic put up historic stats and performances, but he also made the Mavericks playoff contenders for the first time since 2016. He led them to four playoff appearances, including a Finals appearance last year. In the playoffs, he averaged a combined 30.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 1.7 steals.
Without a doubt, Doncic was one of the best players to perform for the Mavericks. He is currently No. 6 on their all-time scoring list with 12,089 points, No. 4 in rebounds with 3,655, No. 5 in assists with 3,489, and No. 2 in 3-pointers made with 1,276. He also earned five All-Star and All-NBA selections.
Whether Doncic will return to Dallas in the future remains unknown. Regardless, his jersey belongs in the rafters.
Cory Nelson is a contributor to The Lead. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson, Instagram @ckenzynelson, and Threads @ckenzynelson