Luka Dončić Left Off Mavericks All-Time List by Former Teammate: A Tale of Shock and Rivalry
In a move that sent shockwaves through the basketball world, former Dallas Mavericks point guard J.J. Barea released his personal “Mavericks All-Time Starting Five” list during a podcast appearance on Legends of the Court. To the astonishment of fans and analysts alike, the name Luka Dončić was nowhere to be found.
Barea’s list? Jason Kidd, Rolando Blackman, Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tyson Chandler. The omission of Dončić—four-time All-NBA First Team member, 2024 scoring champion, and widely considered the most talented Maverick since Nowitzki—sparked a social media firestorm. Within minutes, “#JusticeForLuka” was trending on X (formerly Twitter), and pundits were scrambling for answers.
“I’m not saying Luka isn’t amazing,” Barea said defensively, his voice firm yet calm. “But when I think of an all-time list, I think chemistry. I think legacy. I think championships. Luka’s story isn’t finished. He’s brilliant, but not a Maverick legend—not yet.”
The backlash was immediate. Mark Cuban, now part-owner after selling a majority stake in 2023, weighed in on Instagram. “Luka is the Mavericks right now. He carried this franchise back to relevance. Leaving him off that list is like leaving out air in a list of things needed to breathe.”
Inside sources close to Dončić revealed that he was “blindsided and hurt.” The Slovenian star, known for his stoic demeanor, allegedly found out about the snub while stretching before a summer league practice in Ljubljana. “He just stared at his phone,” said trainer Aleš Kolar. “Didn’t say a word. Then went out and dropped 73 in a scrimmage. He was mad.”
Fans weren’t as quiet. Murals of Barea around Dallas were vandalized overnight—spray-painted with Dončić’s jersey number, 77, and phrases like “The Real #1.” Sports talk radio lit up with furious callers, some suggesting that Barea’s list was a personal slight fueled by jealousy or outdated loyalty.
But was it? Some close to Barea insist the omission was purely strategic. “J.J. sees greatness differently,” said former teammate Devin Harris. “He values grit, rings, and locker-room leadership. Maybe he just thinks Luka hasn’t led this team deep enough yet. But the kid’s only 26.”
Dončić, for his part, remained silent for three days—then posted a cryptic photo on Instagram: a shot of him in the Mavericks locker room, alone, staring at the empty wall where player portraits hang. The caption? Just a clock emoji.
If there’s one thing this fictional drama proves, it’s that greatness is not always recognized in real-time. And for Luka Dončić, the fire that fuels legends may now burn brighter than ever.
With the 2025-26 NBA season approaching, one question lingers: will this snub ignite the fury that finally takes Luka and the Mavs to the top? If so, Barea may have accidentally handed Dallas its greatest gift yet—a very motivated Luka Dončić.
