CHARLOTTE, N.C. - All-Star Saturday hasn't had much of a Mavericks presence in recent years, but on this night in the Spectrum Center it showcased the two-decade-long face of the franchise, its future and its recently departed.
Dirk Nowitzki exited in the first round of the 3-point contest. Luka Doncic fell in the Skills Challenge semifinals, to Trae Young, of all players. And former Maverick-turned-Knick Dennis Smith Jr. lost in the final round of the dunk contest to Oklahoma City's Hamidou Diallo.
Doncic, whose hopes of being added to Sunday's All-Star game apparently were dashed Saturday when Anthony Davis (injured left shoulder) says he intends to play, said his first All-Star weekend experience was all he hoped it would be.