I was promised Luka Doncic to Dirk Nowitzki alley-oops. Right at the beginning of the season, Mark Cuban went on TV and said in front of everyone “At least once in every Mavericks game this season, Luka Doncic will throw the ball high into the air towards the basket but instead of trying to make a shot he will be throwing a pass to Dirk Nowitzki, who will catch the ball mid-flight and dunk it through the rim. Through these acts we will strengthen Germano-Slovene relations to the greatest levels ever seen on this earth. That is my solemn promise to you.” and then he walked off the stage to thunderous applause.
I’ve been keeping track of Doncic/Nowitzki alley-oops this season, and my total count of such happenings: 0. None. Not even one. That, by itself, isn’t the worst thing ever; we are getting alley-oops from Doncic to other players in satisfactory numbers. The problem is that we were lied to. Blatantly. And I bet Cuban knew he was lying.
Where is the accountability? No one is talking about this. Am I the only one who heard his proclamation? I find that hard to believe. It was being aired on ESPN, streamed on Twitch, even my mom was watching it. But it’s like all records of him saying it have vanished into the memory hole.
Well, I still remember. And I won’t ever forget.