Luka Doncic continued his stellar rookie season Wednesday night as he finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes of action as the Mavericks earned their 18th win of the season with a dominant 122-84 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
The Doncic effect is real – last season, the Mavs did not win their 18th game of the season until Feb. 10. Fast forward less than a year later and the team is one game under-.500 and very much a threat to contend for one of the West's final playoff spots.
MORE: Day-by-day highlights of Luka Doncic's rookie season
So should the rookie sensation be an All-Star this season? Some people that know a thing or two about All-Star games weighed in on Wednesday.
When asked if his rookie teammate should receive All-Star consideration, 21-year veteran and 13-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki responded affirmatively, telling reporters "yeah, I mean, just the turnaround that we've had the last two years. Obviously, he's not the only guy but he's a major part of why we're almost .500 in the West, but it's going to be tough."
The 2007 league MVP continued by looking at both sides of the coin: "We all know there's amazing players in the West and it's going to be tough for him to get in, but he has a case. He's been playing well, he's been running the show, he's been really clutch for us in big games so he deserves a shot or at least to be mentioned."
Just 36 games into his rookie season, the 19-year-old is averaging 19.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per contest, numbers that have caught the attention and garnered the respect of the basketball world as a whole.
MORE: What is Luka Doncic's ceiling?
Still, Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle, who coached the East All-Stars in 2004, asserts that time and team success will be the best indicator of whether or not Doncic will find himself playing in the All-Star game this year.
“Well time will tell. He’s having a terrific year, but look, we’re in a team thing here and I just am reluctant to get into talking about individual stuff… Generally speaking, if you’re having a great individual year and your team is winning a winning team you have a chance to make the All-Star team. All those things will probably factor into it.”
The Mavs play in 13 more games before 2019 All-Star reserves are announced on Jan. 31. With the Mavs currently sitting at 18-19, a big stretch from Doncic could be just what it takes to propel him into the All-Star Game.
Dallas next takes the floor Friday night when they visit Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics at 8:00 p.m. ET on TSN.