USA Today via Reuters
Jan 18, 2021; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives past San Antonio Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV (1) during the third quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 18, 2021; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives past San Antonio Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV (1) during the third quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Mavericks are slowly rebounding from their downward spiral because of their players being hit by the Coronavirus. However, that’s not the only good news the Mavericks have in store for them. Their star player, Luka Doncic, will be a starter in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. However, not everyone is happy with Luka taking the last spot in the Western Conference backcourt over Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard. Looking at this, Doncic couldn’t help but comment on this selection.
Luka Doncic agrees with popular opinion?
Watch What’s Trending Now!
As per Tim MacMahon, Luka said, “I didn’t expect that I was going to start this game. I know that maybe [Damian] Lillard deserved it more than me.”
But does a player who was a first-team NBA-All selection in the last campaign really need to apologize about taking this spot?
Luka Doncic on All-Star voting results: “I didn’t expect that I was going to start this game. I know that maybe [Damian] Lillard deserved it more than me.”
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 20, 2021
The All-Star voting includes a mix of fan votes, player votes, and media ballots. Doncic and Dame had tied for the second spot, but Luka ended up as the starter because of the fan vote tiebreaker.
Regardless, Doncic starting shouldn’t be a very big shocker. He is averaging 29.1 points, 9.4 assists, and 8.6 rebounds a game. One need not explain Doncic’s caliber after taking a cursory look at these figures. Anyway, a player’s poor performance in the initial half of the season can’t be the sole criteria to exclude him from contention.
Why Damian Lillard deserves it more
Dame, on the other hand, is averaging 29.8 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.4 rebounds. Even though Doncic is doing better in the stats area, he hasn’t been able to carry forward the team like Lillard has this season.
Even with an injury-ridden team, he has kept them afloat, who are now fourth in the Western Conference with an 18-10 record. The numbers are sure weighing more on Luka’s side, but the Blazers are a better team.
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 4, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The other starters in the West are LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Stephen Curry, and Nikola Jokic. The reserves are yet to be announced, and it’s impossible that Lillard won’t be a part of that.
In his first All-Star game, Luka only had 8 points. So, expect him to take everyone by surprise in 2021.
Read also- Damian Lillard Ahead of LeBron James and Others as the Most Clutch Player Since 2012–13
