In a resurfaced clip from last year, Nikola Jokic expressed his desire to see fellow Balkan Luka Doncic become an NBA Champion. While his opinion is debatable, it’s not surprising.

Despite a crucial Game 4 victory in the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, the Minnesota Timberwolves remain on unstable footing.

The Timberwolves’ efforts to rise above mediocrity this season have been nothing short of miraculous. However, their conference finals opponent, the Mavericks, have also overcome past struggles to reach their current position.

Since winning their first franchise championship in 2011, the Mavericks struggled to assemble a winning team. The tide began to turn when they selected Slovenian sensation Luka Dončić third overall in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Dončić’s arrival in Dallas steadily lifted the franchise out of mediocrity. In 2022, the Mavs finished the regular season with 50 or more wins for the first time in seven seasons and reached the conference finals for the first time in eleven seasons.

Achieving 50 wins once again has propelled Dallas to the Conference Finals. With a 3-1 series lead against the third-seeded Wolves, Dončić’s Mavericks are favorites to not only reach the finals but also potentially win their second championship.

Among those backing Luka Legend and the Mavericks is Nuggets center and reigning MVP Nikola Jokić.

Why Jokić Picking Doncic Makes Sense 

When asked last year about who else he would want to see win the finals, Jokic said, “If we don’t make it, I mean, Luka of course. He is a really good friend”.

Jokic’s support for Doncic is not random. He acknowledges Doncic’s skills, high basketball IQ, and leadership qualities. Having seen Doncic’s career flourish, the Serbian understands the challenges of reaching the top level.

Doncic’s mental toughness, confidence, and desire to win make him a unique threat. This was evident in this year’s playoffs, where the Mavs started 1-0 against both the Clippers and OKC Thunder but bounced back to finish 4-2.

Doncic also placed in the top three in the 2024 MVP voting and secured his first career scoring title, maintaining his dominant momentum. Currently averaging 28.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 9.1 assists in the playoffs, ‘Swaggy L’ is a strong contender for the WCF MVP honors if the Mavs win the series.

The Balkan brothers share an unbreakable, genuine bond and understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses well.