In Spain, they call him “Niño Maravilla” (Wonderboy) after leading Real Madrid Baloncesto to three La Liga titles and the 2018 EuroLeague Championship as a teenager, en route to claiming European MVP honors. Now, Luka Doncic is simply “Luka”, earning the one-name moniker a-la LeBron or Steph after just one season in the NBA. When the Hawks selected the 19-year-old Slovenian with the third overall pick in the 2018 draft, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wasted no time dealing his 5th pick, Trae Young, and future considerations to acquire their next foreign heir apparent to Dirk Nowitzki. No disrespect to the big German, but Doncic has already shown more promise, his unique skill set and immense talent seemingly unmatched by all but his idol, King James. Presented here is an amazing pair of Luka’s 2018-19 game worn shoes that have been professionally photo-matched to three games during his incredible rookie campaign. Here’s how Doncic fared in those contests:
3/2 vs. Grizzlies – 22 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks (26 minutes)
3/6 at Wizards – 31 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast, 4 stl
3/8 at Magic – 24 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl
Wearing these Nike ‘Hyperdunk X Low All-Star’ sneakers, Luka had one of the greatest debut seasons in NBA history with 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, six steals and one steal in under 33 minutes of action per game. He was an easy choice for Rookie of the Year, leading all newcomers in scoring while running point for the Mavs. His creativity, vision and feel for the game are off the charts. Thus far in 2019-20, he has bumped those totals to 29 points, 9.5 boards and 8.8 dimes, respectively, putting Dallas in playoff position for the first time in four years.
The flashy colorways with pink and black accents come in size 15 and are properly tagged on the interior. The lightweight, low-top design resembles one of Nike’s innovative running shoes. Post-use, Luka signed each shoe on the toes in 8/10 black pen. Significant wear is obvious inside and out. The experts at Resolution Photomatching were able to match them conclusively from scuff marks and the unique creasing pattern on the midsoles. All original elements are present including the insoles and laces. This is the first pair of Luka rookie gamers to hit the auction block and should demand a heavy penny. The market for “El Matador” is en fuego.
Comes with a letter of provenance from a former Knicks ball boy (not posted online due to his privacy request, but rest assured the original will be included). His collection is well-represented in this auction. LOA from Resolution Photomatching with details on the three matches. Beckett COA's for each autograph.