I’ve been keeping an eye on the ascension of Luka Doncic for quite some time. Ever since Southwest Airlines and NBC Sports flew me and my buddy Shawn Anthony out to Dallas to watch the depleted Ky Bowman-era Golden State Warriors (Kevin Durant gone, Splash Bros injured), I’ve been haunted by what Doncic unleashed that night.

That was a game in which Doncic outscored the Warriors in the first quarter BY HIMSELF, and finished with a 35-point, 10 rebound, 11 assist triple-double in only three quarters played. That’s right folks, he sat out the entire final period of the blowout.

Ridiculous. Doncic has mastered slow motion basketball, where he makes the game slow down to his pace and contorts defenses to try and stop him. His cagy dribble and precise footwork can get him downhill on anybody, and he’s got an almost Steph Curryian touch both around the basket and from deep beyond the arc. He averaged 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game on 48% shooting from the field, 38% from beyond the arc.

THAT’S INSANE.

But now in his sixth season, the true test will be playoff success. As it is with all great players who establish themselves individually in the NBA, they will ultimately be judged by championships. The last time the Mavs were in the playoffs, they made the Western Conference finals before having their souls ripped out in five games by the eventual champion Warriors.

Did you know every other season Luka’s been in the playoffs, he’s been eliminated by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round? You could say they’re the Bad Boys Pistons to his Michael Jordan, or the Boston Celtics to his Cleveland-era LeBron James. In 2020 the Clippers outlasted him 4-2 despite him averaging 31 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists on 50% shooting from the field.

That herculean effort was for naught, and when they ran it back the very next season, the Clippers prevailed 4-3 despite Doncic averaging 35.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 10.3 assists on 49% shooting from the field (40% from deep).

Now Doncic’s Mavericks have a 2-1 lead over the Clippers, which they also had in 2021 before faltering in seven games. Will Doncic finally bury his nemesis and lead his team out of the first round?