Mav Nation

Luka Magic: From Ljubljana to NBA stardom.

Luka Dončić is a Slovenian professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a Rookie of the Year, six-time NBA All-Star, six-time All-NBA First Team member and a two-time NBA Scoring Champion. He also represents the Slovenian national team. Nicknamed “Luka Magic,” he is broadly regarded as one of the greatest European players of all time.

Lore & Background

Dončić was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2018 NBA draft and then traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He was unanimously selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and won Rookie of the Year for the 2018–19 season. In the 2023–24 season he led the NBA in scoring averaging 33.9 points per game and lead the Mavericks to the NBA Finals, where they fell to the Boston Celtics in five games. Dončić was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of the 2024–25 season in a controversial blockbuster trade. In the 2025–26 season he led the NBA in scoring for a second time averaging 33.5 points per game. Doncic ranks seventh in NBA career triple-doubles.

Reader's Guide

Dončić was a youth player for Union Olimpija before joining the youth academy of Real Madrid. In 2015, he made his debut for the academy's senior team at age 16, becoming the youngest in club history. He made his senior debut for Slovenia in 2016 at only 17 years of age. He later helped his country win its first EuroBasket title, in 2017, while also being named to the All-Tournament Team. Dončić led Madrid to the 2018 EuroLeague title, winning the EuroLeague MVP and the Final Four MVP. He was named the ACB Most Valuable Player and won back-to-back EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player awards. Dončić was also selected to the EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team.

Did You Know?

Dončić first touched a basketball when he was seven months old.
He wore the number 7 at Real Madrid in honor of Greek player Vassilis Spanoulis.
He was named MVP of the Round in the EuroLeague at age 17, the youngest ever to do so.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Dallas Mavericks franchise founded?

The professional basketball club began operations in 1980 as an expansion team. This date marks the origin of the relationship between the city and Mav Nation.

How many championships has the team won?

The Mavericks have secured one NBA championship title in their history during 2011. This victory is celebrated annually by fans as the franchise's greatest achievement.