Dallas Mavericks: Damian Lillard and Carmelo Anthony praise Luka Doncic

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic had an impressive 35-point performance on Jan. 17 which drew praise from All-Stars Damian Lillard and Carmelo Anthony.

The Dallas Mavericks returned home to the face Portland Trail Blazers on Friday evening. They were searching for their fourth straight win. Mavs fans knew it was going to take a massive performance from Luka Doncic because Kristaps Porzingis missed his tenth straight game.

The 20-year-old star was up to the task. He helped the Mavericks net 38 points in the first quarter and never look back as they secured the 120-112 victory over Portland. Doncic finished with 35 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and a career-high eight 3-pointers made.

Here is a look at his highlight reel from Friday’s win.

It was another incredible performance from Luka Doncic. The Blazers offered plenty of praise towards the young star after the game.

Melo on Luka

Carmelo Anthony called Doncic a “walking bucket” and told Mavericks fans they should “appreciate what they have” in his postgame comments. Fans can listen to them here courtesy of Taimon Turner.

Melo had a throwback performance on Friday night. He scored 22 points in 32 minutes. Luka Doncic gave Anthony props in his postgame interview too. It was awesome to see the mutual respect the two had for each other.

Dame recognizes Luka’s greatness

Blazers star Damian Lillard has had multiple battles with Luka Doncic over the last two seasons. Lillard had 34 points and ten assists on Friday night. Doncic just outperformed him in what was an entertaining showdown between two of the best offensive players in the NBA.

After the game, Lillard recognized Luka as “Amazing. Arguably the MVP of the league right now.” He also noted that the Mavs star plays well beyond his years. Fans can hear more from Dame here courtesy of Dorothy Gentry.

Luka Doncic continues to draw praise from everybody. It is all deserving too. The 20-year-old has quickly transformed into an All-Star starter and yearly MVP candidate. Watching him improve over the next five years will be a treat for Mavericks supporters. Stay tuned.