The Wonder Boy

ESPN's Tim MacMahon examines the pressure of building around a prodigy in the NBA, through the prism of the Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic.

THE WONDER BOY chronicles Doncic's journey from the most hyped European teen prospect in basketball history to a generational NBA star -- and all the madness that ensues as the Mavericks attempt to avoid blowing the golden opportunity of having a young, perennial MVP candidate as the franchise centerpiece. The book digs behind the scenes of the drama and dysfunction in Dallas during the early years of Doncic's career, when owner Mark Cuban's front office focused as much on internal power struggles as actually improving the basketball team. And it covers the new regime's effort to earn Doncic's loyalty, which requires putting the ruthless competitor in position to win. Readers will learn never-before-reported details about the blockbuster deal for Kristaps Porzingis that blew up in the Mavs' faces, the divorces with coach Rick Carlisle and GM Donnie Nelson, the series of mistakes that led to Jalen Brunson leaving after a run to the Western Conference finals, the new pairing with mercurial Kyrie Irving, roster moves that could have been made and much more.

As the clock ticks on the Mavs' search for a co-star, THE WONDER BOY dives into how the Mavericks have handled a dilemma every NBA team would love to have.

"The Wonder Boy is as dynamic and entertaining as Dončic on a fastbreak. Mesmerizing and meticulously reported, MacMahon illuminates the darker sides of the NBA in navigating the future of one of its brightest prodigies: the pressure and ever-ticking clock to succeed at all costs."
--Mirin Fader, New York Times bestselling author of Giannis and Dream
"From on-the-ground reporting in Luka Dončic s native Slovenia, through one of the most prolific teenage careers the game has ever seen to the behind-the-scenes details of his fascinating climb to the NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks, Tim MacMahon has assembled the definitive volume of an already enriching basketball life. You don't know Luka until you've read this story."
--Brian Windhorst, New York Times bestselling author and host of The Hoop Collective
"In a league built on star power, Luka Dončic has established himself as a force -- growing the game internationally but letting his game do the talking -- until now. MacMahon gives fans an intimate look at Dončic and what makes a Wonder Boy tick."
--Malika Andrews, host of ESPN's NBA Today and NBA Countdown
"NBA fans will want to add this to their shelf."--Publishers Weekly
"Tim is so plugged into Dončic's psyche and the Mavs organization throughout the book, exposing both the beauty and the chaotic ugliness that surrounds NBA superstars and their teams. It's ripe with the kind of storytelling you dream of reading about a player who could dominate the league for the next decade, if not more."--Chris Herring, Senior Writer for ESPN, and New York Times bestselling author of Blood in the Garden The Flagrant History of the 1990s New York Knicks
"From Doncic's childhood through the Mavericks run to the 2024 NBA Finals, MacMahon unearths fascinating new details about Doncic's unlikely path to Dallas and the challenges of building around a generational superstar. This is a true insider account--a must-have for any basketball fan."
--Zach Lowe, NBA analyst and host of the "Lowe Post" podcast

Tim MacMahon reports on the NBA for ESPN. A native of Dallas, he's followed the Mavs for decades and currently covers the team.

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