![Luka Doncic]()
Talking trash to an opposing superstar player is a fan's right. They're the hard-paying customers filling the seats at these games and help create the epic theatre that is the NBA playoffs, or any other major sports postseason for that matter. But like, there are three general guidelines you should follow in these situations. A) Don't get into a fistfight like a complete clown. 2) Be responsible with alcohol/drug use so you remember this once-in-a-lifetime experience; and D) —
IYKYK — Don't. Poke. The. Bear.
Some sad sack rooting for the Minnesota Timberwolves decided it'd be a good idea to taunt Luka Doncic of all people. Luka? Really? Not since Prime LeBron has there been a guy you don't want to piss off more than him. The result? Luka came out of the gates scalding hot in Game 5, as the Mavericks jumped out to a huge early lead from his 20 first-quarter points and never looked back.
https://twitter.com/BenGolliver/status/1796344877942538611
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1796345546220736617
https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/status/1796376007169179839
Luka set the tone, inspired his teammates to ball out on defense, and opened plenty of room up for Kyrie Irving to flourish. By the middle of the third quarter, the outcome was in zero doubt. That led Luka to clap back in a brief, three-second clip that I literally LOLed at multiple times as the Mavericks' decisive Game 5 wrapped up.
https://twitter.com/kevinoconnornba/status/1796364504810520692
I feel like every time Anthony Edwards tried to talk a big game — such as all but guaranteeing the Western Conference Finals would return to Dallas for Game 6 — the Wolves came out and promptly laid an egg. They did it again on Thursday night in front of their home crowd. To me, once Luka's already-blazing competitive fire had their flames fanned by that idiot who mocked him, it was all over. Can't really blame Ant, Rudy Gobert — though I love to do that often — or anyone in Minnesota.
Going glass on a trey with the shot clock winding down...as Snoop Dogg just shakes his head in disbelief...? What
can't Luka do?
https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1796373503865737617
The Wolves faithful who stuck around for the Mavs' West champion trophy presentation booed Luka as he spoke about the dub. He couldn't have cared less.
https://twitter.com/jonmachota/status/1796378298328453324
I wouldn't care either with a resume like this:
https://twitter.com/KevinOConnorNBA/status/1796374784626114735
Now we've got an NBA Finals matchup in which an oft-criticized Boston Celtics team, with their incessant, insufferably boisterous gallery of spectators, will take on the ultimate trash talker in Luka. Plus, there's the whole angle of Kyrie wearing out his welcome in Beantown, only to have the chance to break the Celtics' hearts years later on basketball's biggest stage.
Motherf****r,
I'm about to cry tears of joy if the Mavs actually pull this off. Because that'll mean Luka is an NBA champion. He's the hero professional basketball deserves
and needs right now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUu2xSxGPfk
