Mavericks star Luka Doncic presents rookie forward with unforgettable gift

Jaren Boslow

Minnesota Timberwolves v Dallas Mavericks / Christopher Pike/GettyImages

The Dallas Mavericks are fresh off a 144-126 win over the LA Clippers on Friday night. This would officially mark the team's first win in the NBA's inaugural In-Season Tournament.

Mavs superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving would lead the team to a masterful win and continue their dominance over their conference rivals. Behind Doncic's 44 points, six rebounds, and six assists, the Mavericks would easily dismantle the Clippers.

Rookie Dereck Lively II would continue proving his case for being the undisputable starting center. Additionally, off the bench, Tim Hardaway Jr. would contribute 17 points to the winning effort.

Mavericks star Luka Doncic presents rookie forward with unforgettable gift

For the Clippers, this would be just the team's third showcase with their newly acquired superstar, James Harden. The Clippers looked to have retooled around Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, but they have yet to get a win with Harden in the lineup.

With the Mavericks so easily taking care of the Clippers, this would lead to valuable minutes for players who don't typically play on a given night. Rookie Olivier-Maxence Prosper would be one player that saw the floor more than expected. In five minutes of play, Prosper didn't contribute much, but he did score his first point as a professional.

The bench and every Mav would audibly get hyped as Prosper nailed his first career point. After the game, Doncic would even grab the game ball to gift to Prosper for his accomplishment.

First points in the Association, and the rook gets the game ball 🏀 @olmaxpros8 // #MFFL pic.twitter.com/3x4Mlhh3RH
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) November 11, 2023

This wasn't something that Doncic had to do, but he wanted to show love to Prosper by giving him the game ball after this unforgettable moment.

Mavs head coach Jason Kidd complimented Doncic's leadership during media availability after practice on Saturday, saying "that's who Luka is" when asked about the moment when he grabbed the ball for Prosper.

As of Saturday morning, Prosper would be sent down to the Mavs G League affiliate, the Texas Legends. This move will allow Prosper to get plenty of playing time, and he will travel with the team to New Orleans for their game against the Pelicans on Sunday.

Prosper and the Mavericks hope this move will not only grant more playing time but also a chance to develop Prospers' game. He hasn't had much run in the NBA, but getting some run in the G League could allow him to take his game to the next level.

The Dallas Mavericks' next In-Season Tournament game will be held Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans. For more updates on Olivier-Maxence Prosper and the Mavs' upcoming games, stay plugged in.

Jaren Boslow

Jaren Boslow is a contributor for The Smoking Cuban, where he has been covering the Dallas Mavericks since the beginning of the 2023-24 season. Jaren is currently an undergrad student at the University of North Texas studying sports journalism. In addition to writing for The Smoking Cuban, Jaren is the beat writer for the North Texas men's and women's golf teams. While Jaren has only recently gotten into the journalism side of sports, he has been a longtime fan of the Mavericks for over a decade. Through his passion for sports and Mavericks basketball, Jaren offers a unique perspective to fans of the Dallas Mavericks. Outside of covering Mavericks basketball, Jaren is a full-time student who enjoys working out and spending quality time with friends.