Doncic didn’t wait very long into the new season to make our jaws drop with another pass
I have sort of declared myself the unofficial “Luka Doncic made another crazy pass” beat writer of Mavericks media. Anytime Doncic makes a pass (or passes) that astound me, I usually write about it the next day. I wrote about that wild pass against the Lakers last season, a dazzling display he put on against the Trail Blazers in 2022, following when he did it to that same team in 2021, and his passing clinic against the Celtics in 2019.
The Internet has unlimited room to write about basketball but I feel like we’re somehow running out of room with all these Doncic passes. He did it again in the season opener Thursday night against the Spurs, during the Mavericks third quarter run that blew the game open and sealed the win.
In the midst of a run near the start of the quarter, Doncic rebounded a missed three and sped up the court. He was met by Spurs 7’4 phenom Victor Wembanyama, and what Doncic thought was an easy layup turned into a highlight reel in another way — instead of challenging the long arms of Wemby, Doncic did what any normal basketball player would do, turning his back to Wemby and throwing a no-look, over-the-shoulder pass to his teammate in the corner, PJ Washington. It was a picture perfect pass, but considering Doncic was throwing it over his shoulder and around one of the best defensive players in the NBA, it’s remarkable it was close enough for Washington to catch, gather, and shoot. Washington was only 2-of-7 from three Thursday night, but this was one of the makes. Thank goodness, because now we get an all-time Doncic moment.
My favorite part of this play is how you can see the decision-making from Doncic in real time. He races out when he collects the rebound, thinking he’s got a layup. Then he sees Wemby, who swallows shots with ease. At that point you can kind of see the wheels turning in Doncic’s brain, knowing he can’t get an easy score here, so time to pivot to plan B. Plan B being this audacious pass is just part of Doncic’s basketball DNA.
All in all, it was a successful opener from the Mavericks. Doncic started slow with no preseason due to injury, but rounded into form in the second half. New Maverick Klay Thompson stole the show with 22 points in his debut and six-made three pointers. It was only Game 1 but Mavericks fans have a lot to smile about right now.