The Dallas Mavericks are one of the hottest teams in the NBA. A great deal of that success comes down to their star rookie, Luka Doncic. After finishing 13th in the West last season, the Mavericks sit in 7th place in the West at 12-10, fueled by an 8-2 record in their last 10 games.

Through 21 games Doncic is averaging a team-leading 18.6 points to go along with 4.2 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game. He’s also shooting 38.6% from deep but it’s not just the efficiency and numbers with Doncic, it’s the way he’s racking them up that should have everyone on notice.

Doncic’s performance against the Rockets was a display of just how special he can be. From his tough stepback 3 against Harden to his nifty finishes and near half-court buzzer-beating shot, Doncic has shown the top-tier shotmaking ability of the best perimeter stars in this league. What makes Doncic so entertaining to watch is that he’s capable of making plays that you rarely see on any given night. He’s been making those skeptical of his ability look foolish with his immense success in the Euroleague.

So far, it looks like the Mavericks are surefire winners of their draft night trade with the Atlanta Hawks and that’s no discredit to Trae Young. But, more an indication of just how good Doncic has been for Dallas. He’s not just the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, he’s the leader of a Mavericks team that’s in the playoff hunt with the fifth-best point differential in the West despite a 3-7 start. He’s even shown up for the team in the clutch, exemplified by his game-clinching stepback three against the Trailblazers.

It speaks volumes about Doncic that the Mavericks have let him run the team from the get-go but they aren’t left without questions. They’re now tasked with finding out who the right pieces to fit around Doncic are and it’s fair to wonder whether Dennis Smith Jr., their lottery point guard from last year’s draft, has a place in the team’s future when he’s not the primary ballhandler. Regardless, the team has a bright future and for now, Mavericks fans and NBA fans alike can sit back and watch whatever tricks Doncic has in store as his star continues to rise.