Luka Dončić shows the Timberwolves – and the NBA world – that he is that guy

MINNEAPOLIS — Luka Dončić has always looked forward to doing what was asked of him in Game 2 on Friday. The weight of a decisive blow on his shoulders is pressure for most others, but for him it is an accelerant. He has always risen as high as the stakes demand.

And in the Western Conference Finals – where he's been before, but never as good as he is here, just two wins away from the NBA Finals and with two home games coming up – he crossed the finish line. It was Dončić's step-back three over Rudy Gobert that put the Minnesota Timberwolves under, a shot that gave the Dallas Mavericks a 109-108 victory in Game 2 despite trailing by 18 points in the first half.

In the moments that followed, Dončić screamed from the depths of his soul. He yelled at Rudy Gobert, who afterward claimed he couldn't hear him despite the stunned silence of the Target Center crowd. Anyone on the Mavericks will tell you about Dončić's dislike of the French center. He said, according to lip readers and audio recordings, “You can't defend me,” only with a lot more profanity. Then, as the final siren sounded, he told Timberwolves fans to go home, shrieking farewells that were anything but kind. Amid the bizarre Timberwolves ownership void, Dončić made a case Friday that he should fill that void.

When asked afterward about his alleged comments to Gobert on the court, Dončić said, “I didn't say that. I was speaking Slovenian.” He then smiled wryly, which was very similar to the knowing grin you give when you're not being completely honest.

Dončić is leading the new era of this league. He is the best player under 25, one of the best players of this era, and he has a chance to cement that arbitrary title by becoming the first of this new generation to win the NBA Finals if he can close out this series against Minnesota. He has made the All-NBA first team in five consecutive seasons. He is truly this guy.

What that means, however, depends entirely on your perspective.

Dončić may have been created in a lab to win basketball games, but he's not a stiff superstar the NBA has grown in a test tube. Dončić has probably taunted your favorite team mercilessly. He's probably yelled victory swear words at them. He thrives on his emotions on the court, using his brain's ability to do math in the moment, even if he has a hard time talking about it.

“I don't know, man. I just… ask myself another question, man,” Dončić said after his win on Friday when asked about his success in scoring. “I don't know. I just attacked. I don't know. Do you have any other questions?”

There are reasons not to like Dončić, too. He chases fouls, sometimes to his own detriment. He jerks his head back to draw whistles when he's subtly, if not effectively, hit. He badmouths everyone around him when he's on the court. He's had several altercations with Oklahoma City Thunder fans and yelled obscenities at Minnesota's crowd, even though no one seemed to actually get him upset. This is a man who said last series it “gets him going” when opposing fans yell derogatory at him. He even singled out a Lil Wayne on the sidelines at one point. It doesn't matter who or what Dončić is, he can find substitute motivation against anyone he wants.

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Dončić has long struggled with his conditioning. He sometimes spends possessions waddling around on defense before sprinting down the court when he sees a step-back 3 opportunity waiting for him. And Dončić has lost many games over the years that have sparked far too much debate about how much of an impact he even had on winning. Sometimes he dawdles on defense, and he dawdles on transition opportunities, sometimes because he finds it more interesting to berate a referee instead. Despite his modest-looking frame, which doesn't seem to have any particular talent aside from his 6-foot-4 height, he hasn't always been seen as a man of the people. All of this contributes to how Dončić is perceived.

It also underestimates the most important thing. This postseason run could soon have us all wondering if Dončić is the best basketball player alive.

When Dončić arrived at the Inside the NBA booth, the hosts even goaded him into talking about Gobert himself. “I can't move fast, but I can move faster than him,” Dončić replied. His step-back jump shot that gave Dallas the win and a 2-0 series lead felt more like a spreadsheet equation designed to create a tingling chemical reaction. Dončić kept crossing the ball back and forth between his legs until he had enough room to throw the ball. And he threw it and hit it.

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Teams that win the first two games in a conference final have a combined record of 58-6. So the stage is set for the league's most polarizing North Star to ascend to a place he's never been. While his opponents on the other side of the court have stumbled after Michael Jordan's name was mentioned, Dončić has continued to make the case that he is the next face of the league. His style inspires more grief than understanding among some fans, but imperfection is often what we come to accept from our leading sports figures over time. After all, Jordan himself was an incredibly imperfect figure who, over time, turned to gold.

Whether you like Dončić or hate him, whether you are frustrated with him or fascinated by his saves, Dončić has made one thing certain on the basketball court: He doesn't care if everyone doesn't like him, but he will make sure that everyone respects him.

That's exactly what he did on Friday.

(Top photo: Jesse Johnson / USA Today)