The Luka Doncic Era in Dallas begins Saturday night. Kind of.
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle confirmed Friday that No. 3 overall draft pick Doncic will start and play a yet-to-be-determined number of minutes when the Mavericks host the Beijing Ducks at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
It's a preseason game, which means it's not officially Doncic's debut. And the Ducks hail from the Chinese Basketball Association, which means it's really not even an NBA preseason game.
But it will be Doncic, wearing his Mavericks No. 77, on the court at American Airlines Center, playing basketball, in front of what no doubt will be curiously excited crowd.