Dallas Mavericks: 5 reasons to be excited for the 2018-19 season
By Amaar Burton
2. Dennis Smith Jr. and Luka Doncic: The backcourt of the future
With the ninth pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Mavs selected Dennis Smith Jr., an electric point guard who averaged 15.2 points and 5.2 assists per game as a rookie.
With the third pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Mavs (via trade) acquired Luka Doncic, a crafty and creative type who projects as a shooting guard at 6-foot-7 but could play all three perimeter positions.
Smith, 20 years old, and Doncic, 19, are the future in Dallas.
Smith earned Carlisle’s trust last season, which is no small feat considering that Carlisle is reputed for being leery of rookies and controlling even with his veterans.
Doncic was considered by a lot of draft analysts to be the best overall player in the 2018 class and for a long time was rumored to be the No. 1 overall pick.
Watching these two grow together and find their respective comfort zones in the league could be a treat for Dallas fans and the franchise this season and beyond.