Luka Doncic… Real Madrid's Number One Fan
"Hala Madrid y nada más," was Luka Doncic's message after Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League victory at Wembley. The Slovenian never misses a chance to show his Madridista spirit, a mentality he’ll bring to his first NBA Finals as he leads the Dallas Mavericks against the Boston Celtics.
Doncic first joined Real Madrid in 2012 at the age of thirteen. He breathed the grandeur of the club from a young age and achieved Madridista glory with the 2018 EuroLeague title, three Spanish Leagues, and two Copa del Rey trophies.
He left Real Madrid in 2018 to join the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks, but his bond with Real Madrid remains strong, and he never hesitates to remind everyone of it.
Just over a month ago, Doncic expressed his immense appreciation and gratitude towards Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, who visited him at an NBA game in Dallas.
"That shows the greatness of Real Madrid. For Florentino to come and see me in a playoff game is incredible. I thanked him a lot for coming. It's amazing that he's here," Doncic said at the time.
A few weeks earlier, at the All-Star Game in Indianapolis, he was involved in a fun moment when he arrived at a press conference with his phone, watching a Real Madrid Copa del Rey game live.
"Of course, I'm watching Real Madrid. In the Copa del Rey," Doncic responded when asked if he still followed European basketball from the United States. Doncic is genuine and doesn’t hide his passion. On that same occasion, he admitted that his only goal each season is to go for the championship.
"Every year is important, every year I want to win the ring, every year the goal is the same," he declared. Now, he’s just days away from his first NBA Finals.
He leads the Dallas Mavericks, bringing back the excitement that was last seen during the glory years of Dirk Nowitzki, who won the NBA championship in 2011.
For the Mavericks, this will be the third Finals in their history. They aim for their second title, led by Doncic, who sets no limits for himself and has delivered extraordinary performances on the way to the season's final act.
He averaged 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.8 assists this postseason, as the Mavericks eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers (4-2), the Oklahoma City Thunder (4-2), and the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-2).
These numbers align with Doncic’s career playoff stats. The spotlight motivates him, and pressure brings out his best.
Now, a clash with the Boston Celtics awaits, the best team of the regular season (64 wins and 18 losses), who had a dominant run to the Finals, defeating the Miami Heat 4-1, the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1, and the Indiana Pacers 4-0.