PODCAST: Tim MacMahon unpacks ‘The Wonder Boy’ — his definitive book on Luka Dončić, Mavs
Dallas-based ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon has covered Luka Dončić from the start and offers exclusive insights into the young superstar and the Mavericks. He also touches on Carlisle and Haliburton.
On this episode of the Fieldhouse Files podcast, Tim MacMahon joins. You know of him from ESPN and “Brian Windhorst & the Hoop Collective” podcast. We discussed the release of his book on Luka Dončić, the process that went into it, and Rick Carlisle being there at the beginning.
MacMahon covers the Mavericks and has followed both Dončić and Carlisle throughout their time in Dallas.
“The whole premise of the book is there's this pressure on a franchise when you draft a prodigy. And I wrote it through the prism, obviously, of Luka and the Dallas Mavericks, who have had all kinds of drama and dysfunction leading into Luka’s career and throughout Luka’s career.”
That led to the book being titled, “The Wonder Boy: Luka Doncic and the Curse of Greatness.” When Dončić was unexpectedly traded to the Lakers, MacMahon had to write an additional, unplanned chapter.
“What an insane way though to wrap up a fascinating story that took all sorts of twists and turns,” he said. “It's crazy. The ending of the original book was this upbeat, happy — still open-ended, but happy — ending because they'd just gone to the finals. There's no question in his mind that Dallas was a place that he could stay and contend for championships, just as he always wanted.
“And then they dumped him months later. What a heartbreaking turn of events for Mavericks fans, to say the least.”
Pacers fans will appreciate the story about the Mavericks’ attempt to draft Tyrese Haliburton in 2020. Carlisle’s belief in him played a significant role in Haliburton becoming a Pacer just a year and a half later.
“The Mavericks tried to get Haliburton in the draft,” MacMahon shared. “They tried to trade Jalen Brunson, 18 and 31 for Tyrese Haliburton, and they offered it to every team until Haliburton went off the board, including the New York Knicks, who had the eighth overall pick. They called (Knicks president) Leon Rose, "Hey, we got your godson. We got him. You want him? And the Knicks wanted Obi Toppin.”
And so, Haliburton was selected 12th overall by the Sacramento Kings.
I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.
Among the items discussed on this episode:
Why write this book? The process behind it, including why he’s ultimately grateful that publishing was delayed by a year.
Traveling to Slovenia to trace Dončić’s roots and better understand where he comes from — and why he’s so competitive.
The biggest thing he learned about Luka during his research.
Mark Cuban: The driving force behind the Mavericks trading for Dončić, and how selling a majority share of the team ultimately led to Dončić’s departure from Dallas.
Why Carlisle deserves credit for Dončić’s rapid rise to superstardom.
Carlisle’s relationship with Dončić and how that, along with his experience with Jason Kidd, shapes his partnership with Haliburton.
Carlisle and Haralabos Voulgaris grading Haliburton highly in Dallas and attempting to trade up for him.
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