Dallas Mavericks: Happy Birthday wishes to Luka Doncic

Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic is no longer a teenager as fans should help him celebrate his 20th birthday on Feb. 28.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic probably cannot help but smile today. He is normally jovial, but it is a special day for Doncic. Happy Birthday wishes go out to Luka. He is no longer a teenager as he turns 20 on Thursday.

Doncic has still accomplished so much this season. It is rare for a rookie to be averaging over 20 points a game or grab seven rebounds or produce 5.7 assists. The feat is more exclusive when one player is accomplishing all of those things. Luka Doncic has the looks of a superstar in the making.

Bobby Karalla sent out the following Tweet after the Feb. 27 game against the Indiana Pacers.

Luka keeps plenty of elite company, but to be only compared with LeBron James is wild. Remember King James had two seasons before reaching his 20th birthday because he came directly from high school to the NBA.

Goals for the year

What should Luka Doncic be trying to accomplish as a 20-year-old? Here are three realistic goals he should strive to achieve in the next calendar year.

1. Average 25-plus points per game

That increase in scoring vaults Doncic into the truly elite players. He is tied for 24th right now averaging 20.9 points per game. Only 13 players average over 25 a night, though.

Luka is more than capable of accomplishing this feat. Since the Kristaps Porzingis trade on Jan. 31, he is averaging 24.1 points over his seven games played. That means Doncic was a mere six points shy in those seven contests. Expect the rookie to take the leap to average over 25 points per game.

2. Averaging 7.5 assists per game

Again this is a realistic goal that takes him into elite territory. Since the trades, Luka is averaging 7.4 assists per game. Only eight players are averaging north of 7.5 assists a night for the season.

For reference, only LeBron and James Harden are scoring over 25 with 7.5-plus assists per game this season. It pushes Doncic into the conversation of the elite players in the league.

3. Be named an All-Star

Luka Doncic was snubbed this season, but those accolades matter. How many times do you hear people site that Dirk Nowitzki is a 14-time All-Star? Fans know Doncic deserves the honor, but it is just another barrier that needs to be crossed. This should be the easiest of the goals because Luka’s stellar play should speak for itself.

Final thoughts

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Luka Doncic on Feb. 28. The young star finally turns 20 years old.

Dallas Mavericks should consider themselves lucky. Having a franchise icon and future Hall of the Famer on the team in Dirk, and then, drafting another before the first retires is a rare feat. Luka Doncic is a special talent, and fans should cherish him. It is going to be fun next decade to be a Mavs fan, so stay tuned.