Go to the parade. Always go to the parade, guys.
Why didn’t I fly out to watch the playoffs? I have repeatedly asked myself this since Luka Doncic was traded away. Why didn’t I go, enjoy the big moments fully, celebrate it more. If only there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before it’s over.
It’s not like our lives changed with that trade. But they did though, didn’t they. From ticket reps to security guards and Kirk’s son, born into Luka fandom, all our lives changed.
I lost my spot to
write a weekly column about anything Mavs but mostly Luka Doncic and the mental aspect and cultural background he brings to the table. It would be a little weird if I kept writing about him here when he’s not on the team.
But I also lost something much more important than the freedom in my creative Luka writing. I lost that genuine feeling of fun and underdog mentality, that staunch belief you develop when your team is undervalued and their star is misunderstood. After trying to keep my head high, not lose faith, see new opportunities and all the other things I’m really good at, I realized something as sad as it is haunting:
I will never get that feeling back.
I will never feel the sense of redemption I felt as Luka took down the Suns and Chris Paul made that three to cut the lead down to 42.
Or when Kyrie Irving and Luka protected that ball together.
Or when everybody celebrated so much that we could all see that it wasn’t just us who felt the depth and importance of the moment. It was a special time for them, as well.
That special pride that comes with holding on to a belief that the sum of a team’s parts is bigger than roster construction, cap watching, computer driven specialists insist. That fulfilling confirmation that there’s more to basketball than numbers and data and stats sheets.
It all runs on feelings. Raw emotion like pride, stubbornness, belief in each other and trust can sway a game. It can be the special sauce to propel an underdog through the playoffs all the way to the NBA Finals.
Luka Doncic is an expert at this. Like almost no one else, he can make a team believe that they are better than they are, that they are destined for greatness as a group, that he trusts them. And this is where the magic lies. More than once, he has lifted the ceiling of teammates and led teams to far more wins than anybody expected.
It’s because he gets it. He understands that what you believe and put out there has the power to change things for the better. Belief in yourself and your teammates can literally make you play better. It’s not black and white, it’s nuances and shades and shadows and it all affects winning so you better take control. Luka has always understood the mental aspect and its power.
We will never get that time back. A misguided, unqualified manager took that away from us, and the hardest part is realizing that it will never come back. No matter what we do or what happens, that place in time was so special that it cannot be replicated. I think we can be pretty sure Luka Doncic feels the same way.
A new era has started in Dallas with a new superstar on the horizon and plenty of opportunities to make new memories.
But it will not be what it was. We have all changed. Become more cynical, more melancholic. Others stepped away from the sport, or lost their home, team-wise. Some haven’t gotten over it yet.
So, my message today is simple. Go to the parade. Don’t hesitate when something matters. Go experience it, ask her, text him, show up, check in.
Go to the parade. It may never come back again.
