Coming off the Rising Stars game on Friday where Luka Doncic appeared more interesting in soaking in the NBA All-Star venue rather than competing, he showed a little flair in the skills challenge on Saturday.
He drew the Lakers' Kyle Kuzma in the first round of the skills challenge. Despite falling behind, Doncic's halfcourt 3-point attempt appeared to disrupt Kuzma while the 19-year-old rookie caught up and drained the 3-pointer to advance to the next round.
Luka's halfcourt technique paid off 🤣#MFFL #NBAAllStar
— SportsDay Mavs (@dmn_mavericks) February 17, 2019
(Via @NBAItalia)pic.twitter.com/KEusgsJXSJ
That set up a second-round matchup against the Hawks' Trae Young, who the Mavs selected with the fifth pick in the 2018 NBA draft and shipped him and next year's first-round pick to Atlanta for Doncic.
Doncic took an early lead by tossing his pass through first, but Young used his speed to pull in front. Doncic tried his halfcourt maneuver again, but this time it didn't work as Young advanced to face the Celtics' Jayson Tatum in the final round. Tatum beat Young off a banked-in 3-pointer.
It's OK, we still won the trade 😏#MFFL #NBAAllStar
— SportsDay Mavs (@dmn_mavericks) February 17, 2019
(Via @NBAItalia)pic.twitter.com/8pXrPNrdwj
Here is some of the reaction to Doncic's performance in the skills challenge on Twitter:
Doncic advances, beating Kuzma. Doncic nearly nailed a halfcourt shot, drawing oohs from the crowd, then beat Kuzma by making a 3-pointer first.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) February 17, 2019
Doncic loses to Trae Young. Besides the early season loss at Atlanta, probably the only things Young will beat Doncic in this season.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) February 17, 2019
Does anyone dislike Luka Donçić? I feel like he has a 100% approval rating.
— Greg Tepper (@Tepper) February 17, 2019
soooo, What old person gave Luka Doncic the nickname “cool hand luke”? #NBAAllStar
— Daniel Dudley (@DDisBORED) February 17, 2019
Ahhhh @luka7doncic - love you man
— Jeff Skin Wade (@SkinWade) February 17, 2019
Luka Doncic vs. Trae Young.
— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) February 17, 2019
This is why we're here.
Trae Young beat Luka Doncic in the #TacoBellSkills.....
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) February 17, 2019
Trae gonna beat Luka for the ROY? 🤔
the Hawks won the Luka Doncic trade after all
— Dan Favale (@danfavale) February 17, 2019
Trae Young beat Luka Doncic in the Skills Challenge but Mavs beat the Hawks in the 2018 NBA draft.
— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) February 17, 2019
Seeing Trae Young take down Luka Doncic has to be sweet for Hawks fans if Hawks fans was a thing
— Reese Waters (@reesewaters) February 17, 2019
And that’s that. @dallasmavs rookie #LukaDoncic knocked out in 2nd round of @NBAAllStar skills competition. Irony that he’s beaten by former @OU_MBBall #TraeYoung. Two were traded for one another draft night @CBSDFW @CBS11Sports pic.twitter.com/8vJ82yQ6l2
— keith russell (@krussellcbs11) February 17, 2019
And as a final note on today’s events, a friendly reminder that Luka Doncic is just a blast, and I can’t wait to see him in many more All-Star weekends to come.
— Jay Wallis (@KVUEJayWallis) February 17, 2019
Trae Young vs. Luka Doncic in the Skills Challenge was dope 🙌🏾
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) February 17, 2019
Summing up his All-Star weekend. pic.twitter.com/umeLmkQPZT
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) February 17, 2019
More All-Star coverage
-- Former Maverick Dennis Smith Jr. falls in dunk contest to Thunder's Hamidou Diallo
-- Rising Stars game highlights: Did Mavs' Luka Doncic heed coach Dirk Nowitzki's pre-game advice?
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