Dallas Mavericks: Matt Barnes shares high praise for Luka Doncic

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is ready to make the jump into superstar status this season. Hear what NBA vet Matt Barnes thinks of Doncic’s game.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is ready to lead the team. Dirk Nowitzki rode off into the sunset at the end of last season. The 20-year-old will take over as the Mavs leading scorer and face of the franchise.

The season is officially underway. Training camp practices begin on Tuesday. Their first preseason game is on Oct. 8. The regular season begins on Oct. 23 against the Washington Wizards. Fans are excited that Mavs basketball is back.

The talk during training camp will revolve around their new star duo of Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. Can they push Dallas to the playoff in a stacked Western Conference? How can any team defend the Luka to KP pick and pop? Those questions will be answered in the coming months.

Barnes on Luka

Matt Barnes was on ESPN’s The Jump on Sept. 25. The topic of Luka Doncic came up, and the 14-year NBA veteran showered plenty of praise on the Mavs star. Fans can listen to the clip here.

Barnes saying Luka was “one of my favorite players to watch” jumped out. Throughout his career, Barnes was known as a stout defender that could get under the skin of some of the best scorers in the NBA. He won a championship in 2017 with the Golden State Warriors too. Add Barnes to the list of Doncic supporters.

The 20-year-old improved his conditioning this offseason. Mavericks fans are expecting a massive season. His shooting efficiency should improve. It would not be surprising to see Luka average 23 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists per game during his second year. That should place him in the All-Star and All-NBA conversation at seasons end.

Dallas Mavericks fans looking for all things Luka Doncic should return to The Smoking Cuban. Our site also provides unique analysis on the team every day.