Great players often acquire a nickname that is synonymous with them. For example, Kobe Bryant is synonymous with “The Mamba“. So we’ll start this with the hottest player in the NBA right now. It is none other than Dallas Mavericks guard, Luka Doncic. Luka has been putting up a phenomenal season with the Mavs and doesn’t look to be slowing down.
The Slovenian is leading the scoring list, averaging 33.8 points per game. Accompanied by 9.1 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game. He is single-handedly carrying the entire team, so much so an artist drew a mural of Luka asking for help. Before joining the NBA Doncic played in Spain with the Real Madrid basketball team.
Wonderboy, back at it again! ✨@luka7doncic | #MFFL pic.twitter.com/28a71XZ2EG
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) December 27, 2019
In Spain, they called Luka, ‘Wonderboy’, or ‘Nino Maravilla‘. However, when he first stepped foot in the NBA, they simply called him, ‘Luka’ or ‘Doncic’. Atlanta Hawks drafted Luka and traded him to the Dallas Mavericks in return for Trae Young. Doncic went on to win the Rookie of the Year, in his first season with the Mavs.
Luka Doncic is popularised by the announcers, referring to him as, “Luka Magic“. He is also called “Baby Bird”, by NBA Hall of Famer, and a member of the Dream team, Charles Barkley. Luka shares similarities with the Boston Celtics legend, Larry Bird, who despite his physicality dominated the league, and so does Luka.
Luka Doncic got the nickname ‘El Matador’ in his rookie season
No one controls the game better than Luka Doncic for the Mavs. Despite not being a physical masterpiece, he plays at his own pace and is always in control. No one can argue about Doncic being weighed down by his lack of physicality. Hence, the Mavericks backroom staff coach named him, “El Matador”, in his rookie season, and it sure is a fitting one.
The Mavs have filed trademarks for THE MATADOR and EL MATADOR, the nickname given to Luka Doncic by Mavs player development coach Mike Procopio. Interesting that team is trying to own the nickname given to one of its players. Filing first discovered by @JoshGerben.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 2, 2019
NBA oppositions are the raging bull who do their best to take down Luka, however, failing in doing so. Luka Doncic is a smooth and skillful player, who often outsmarts his opponents like the matador. One can hardly see Luka out of control in the game, his movements in the game are crowd-pleasing at best. Interestingly, the Mavs even tried to file a trademark for “The Matador,” and “El Matador.”
This season Luka is playing at an even higher level as compared to his rookie season. El Matador is on an upward trajectory this season, and will only get better with age. It is quite astonishing to believe Luka is still 22 years old but plays like a 30-year-old veteran star.