Luka Doncic, Dereck Lively and Victor Wembanyama.Photo:Christian Petersen/Getty, Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty, Christian Petersen/GettyLuka Dončićhad some colorful language to describe the debut of a certain rookie during the Dallas Mavericks game against San Antonio Wednesday night — and he wasn’t referring to Spurs sensationVictor Wembanyama!“He didn’t seem like he was nervous, he played f—ing amazing,” the Mavericks star, 24,said about his new teammateDereck Lively II, before turning a slightly pinker hue when the f-bomb slipped out in the post-game interview on ESPN.Lively, a Duke product who went No. 12 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, grabbed headlines and the game ball with his assured performance.His double-double — 16 points, 10 rebounds — bested the heavily anticipated league premiere of generational talent Wembanyama, who had a slow start and was mired in foul trouble before he scored nine points in the fourth quarter to finish with 15 points, five boards, two steals and two assists.The Mavs went on to win the game 126-119 thanks to Lively’s contributions as well as those from Dončić.The Slovenian superstarbecame the third player in NBA historyto have a 30 point triple-double (33-13-10) in a season opener, joining Oscar Robertson (1961, 1966) andGiannis Antetokounmpo(2019).Meanwhile, Lively’s play also made the record books.According to NBA.com, he became the second player in NBA history to score 15-plus points and 10-plus rebounds on 85% or better shooting in a debut game.The rookie only missed one shot on his way to notching 87.5% from the field,according to Si.com.But another standout statistic from the historic night may have Spurs fans the most excited.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The 19-year-old Wembanyama’s stat linewas amazingly virtually the sameas another San Antonio No. 1 draft pick.InTim Duncan’s first game with the team in 1997, he also scored 15 points, had 2 assists and shot 6/9 from the floor,
Luka Doncic, Dereck Lively and Victor Wembanyama.Photo:Christian Petersen/Getty, Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty, Christian Petersen/Getty
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Christian Petersen/Getty, Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty, Christian Petersen/Getty
Luka Dončićhad some colorful language to describe the debut of a certain rookie during the Dallas Mavericks game against San Antonio Wednesday night — and he wasn’t referring to Spurs sensationVictor Wembanyama!“He didn’t seem like he was nervous, he played f—ing amazing,” the Mavericks star, 24,said about his new teammateDereck Lively II, before turning a slightly pinker hue when the f-bomb slipped out in the post-game interview on ESPN.Lively, a Duke product who went No. 12 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, grabbed headlines and the game ball with his assured performance.His double-double — 16 points, 10 rebounds — bested the heavily anticipated league premiere of generational talent Wembanyama, who had a slow start and was mired in foul trouble before he scored nine points in the fourth quarter to finish with 15 points, five boards, two steals and two assists.The Mavs went on to win the game 126-119 thanks to Lively’s contributions as well as those from Dončić.The Slovenian superstarbecame the third player in NBA historyto have a 30 point triple-double (33-13-10) in a season opener, joining Oscar Robertson (1961, 1966) andGiannis Antetokounmpo(2019).Meanwhile, Lively’s play also made the record books.According to NBA.com, he became the second player in NBA history to score 15-plus points and 10-plus rebounds on 85% or better shooting in a debut game.The rookie only missed one shot on his way to notching 87.5% from the field,according to Si.com.But another standout statistic from the historic night may have Spurs fans the most excited.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The 19-year-old Wembanyama’s stat linewas amazingly virtually the sameas another San Antonio No. 1 draft pick.InTim Duncan’s first game with the team in 1997, he also scored 15 points, had 2 assists and shot 6/9 from the floor,
Luka Dončićhad some colorful language to describe the debut of a certain rookie during the Dallas Mavericks game against San Antonio Wednesday night — and he wasn’t referring to Spurs sensationVictor Wembanyama!
“He didn’t seem like he was nervous, he played f—ing amazing,” the Mavericks star, 24,said about his new teammateDereck Lively II, before turning a slightly pinker hue when the f-bomb slipped out in the post-game interview on ESPN.
Lively, a Duke product who went No. 12 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, grabbed headlines and the game ball with his assured performance.
His double-double — 16 points, 10 rebounds — bested the heavily anticipated league premiere of generational talent Wembanyama, who had a slow start and was mired in foul trouble before he scored nine points in the fourth quarter to finish with 15 points, five boards, two steals and two assists.
The Mavs went on to win the game 126-119 thanks to Lively’s contributions as well as those from Dončić.
The Slovenian superstarbecame the third player in NBA historyto have a 30 point triple-double (33-13-10) in a season opener, joining Oscar Robertson (1961, 1966) andGiannis Antetokounmpo(2019).
Meanwhile, Lively’s play also made the record books.
According to NBA.com, he became the second player in NBA history to score 15-plus points and 10-plus rebounds on 85% or better shooting in a debut game.
The rookie only missed one shot on his way to notching 87.5% from the field,according to Si.com.
But another standout statistic from the historic night may have Spurs fans the most excited.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The 19-year-old Wembanyama’s stat linewas amazingly virtually the sameas another San Antonio No. 1 draft pick.
InTim Duncan’s first game with the team in 1997, he also scored 15 points, had 2 assists and shot 6/9 from the floor,
source: people.com