The Dallas Mavericks may no longer be in the NBA playoffs, but in the eyes of Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, they are winners all the same.
“I’m proud of @dallasmavs not just for their success on the court but also for their courageous stands and effective work to strengthen our community and country,” the judge said on Twitter.
The Mavericks lost June 6 to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6 of the first playoff round, ending their season.
But the Mavericks drew praise for their playoff performance, particularly Luka Dončić, described by ESPN as “relentless.”
He averaged 35.7 points 10.3 assists and 7.9 rebounds, and became the youngest player in NBA history at age 22 to average 35 points per game in a playoff series, ESPN reported.
For the season, the Mavericks went 42-30, fifth in the NBA’s Western Conference.
They lost the playoffs series 4-3 to the Clippers.
Dončić, a 6-foot-7-inch guard from Slovenia, attracted attention throughout the NBA.
“Dončić is not only the face of the Dallas Mavericks but arguably the newest face of the NBA,” PrimeTime Sports Talk stated. “He has been dominant since entering the league. Dončić has also made the Mavericks once again one of the NBA’s most feared teams.”
This summer, Dončić will try to help the Slovenian team qualify for the Olympics in Tokyo in July and August, the Mavericks said.
He will be “accompanied by a Mavericks’ entourage who want to make sure his participation with Slovenia includes a sensible amount of rest,” the team said.
“Dončić has said that getting Slovenia to the Olympics is one of his goals, and with countryman Goran Dragić and the Miami Heat also out of the playoffs, it would seem like a good opportunity for them,” the Mavericks said.
Only one Maverick, Josh Green of Australia, has an Olympic spot locked in, the Mavericks said. The Australian team has already qualified for the games, it said.