Luka Doncic's step-back game-winning three was heard worldwide as the Dallas Mavericks took a 2-0 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in last year's Western Conference Finals.
Now, Doncic faces them again, this time opening the playoffs in Los Angeles. Doncic acknowledged Timberwolves' four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert as an opposing threat, inviting the challenge of matching up against the league's best.
And we saw how that went.
"I think he's a great defender," Doncic said in a sit-down interview with ESPN's Malika Andrews. "No matter who it is, I just like to go against centers. When you go against the best, you gotta be at the top."
Doncic and the Mavericks halted all Minnesota's playoff momentum at that point, dominating them in a five-game series to advance to the 2024 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. Doncic averaged 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 2.2 steals that series, borderline unstoppable alongside guard Kyrie Irving.
This time around, everyone's eyeing his squad. He and the Lakers are heavy favorites against Minnesota, with the highest odds to represent the Western Conference behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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His addition to the Lakers formed the trio of LeBron James and Austin Reaves, giving opposing defenses nightmares. There are also key pieces like Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, and Jaxson Hayes roaming the court as depth and complementary players.
The Lakers host Game 1 in Crypto.com Arena on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. EST.
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