Luka Doncic had a cup thrown at him by an irresponsible fan - but the Dallas Mavericks superstar still inspired his team to a sensational win over the Brooklyn Nets.
The Slovenian has just entered the fifth season of his NBA career and he is a bona fide star. General Managers around the league reportedly believe Doncic is the favourite to win the regular season MVP award this season, and his performances to start the campaign suggest he is well on the way to living up to expectations.
Doncic confirmed he’s quicker and stronger thanks to the work he put in during the offseason, and he is remarkably averaging 36.2 points per contest to go with 9.5 rebounds and 9.2 assists through the opening four games. He had his finest performance of the season thus far in the win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night as he outclassed Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
The 23-year-old scored a 41-point triple-double in the 129-125 overtime victory, adding 11 rebounds and 14 assists to lead the Mavericks to their second win of the new season. He also secured three steals in an improved defensive display.
Doncic is considered one of the most popular players in the league with many believing he is set to become the face of the NBA and dominate for years to come. However, the win over Brooklyn confirmed he has his own detractors, too.
During the game, a fan attempted to throw a cup at Doncic during overtime and the match was quickly brought to a halt. According to ESPN, the fan attempted to retreat and leave the Barclays Center but he was stopped by arena security.
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Following an investigation, the fan was not only thrown out of the game but also arrested by local authorities. It's unclear what charges the fan faces.
Fortunately, the cup missed and fell close to Doncic - but the issue still remains. Fans have become increasingly more disruptive in recent years, with Nets star Irving involved in an incident himself last year.
During the 2021 playoffs, a Boston Celtics fan was charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon when he threw a water bottle at Irving - who formerly played for the Celtics - in the match. The fan was also banned from TD Garden, Boston’s home arena.
