Luka Dončić is one of the smartest basketball players on the planet. And yet, he plays the game with his heart as much as his head.
He is passionate about his profession, about being his very best and about winning.
It’s the same way with his dedication to helping people.
Because of his global outreach efforts, the Mavericks’ MVP candidate and superstar point guard is the Chime Community Spotlight winner for March and also has been nominated for the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist award.
From local events like Cookies With Santa to a hospital visit in Madrid to a court dedication in his native Slovenia, Dončić’s influence in the community is boundless.
And it is something he takes a lot of pride in. Especially when it comes to young people who are fighting illness, abuse or other long odds in their quest to have the life of a normal kid.
“My heart has always been with kids,” Dončić said, “and I know that being in a hospital, youth center or facing hard times can be really tough. I want to do whatever I can to make these kids’ days just a bit brighter.
“To see them smile makes me smile.”
One of the best moments for Dončić came when he met with a 15-year-old as part of the Make-A-Wish program.
Through the foundation, Luka has had the privilege of granting many wishes to children facing critical illnesses, fulfilling dreams and bringing moments of joy and inspiration in their time of need.
It’s truly a difference-maker in the lives of the kids and their families.
From being a “Maverick for a day” to meeting the entire team to simply spending time with a young fan who doesn’t get the chance to be a kid very often, Luka answers the call.
One such occasion was when Johnny Miller, a 10th-grader from Gateway High School in Fort Myers, Fla., made a wish to meet Luka. Johnny became a Dončić fan after he was drafted in 2018. Johnny suffers from Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of neurological cancer. His diagnosis led to depression and he dropped out of school.
But life momentarily turned around for Johnny when he became a Make-A-Wish Foundation recipient.
When the event happened on the night of the 2023-24 home opener against Brooklyn, it was an absolute overwhelming moment for Johnny and his mother.
“It’s amazing to see him so happy,” Stacy Miller said. “It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen him smile and be so happy.”
Before his pregame warmups, Dončić met with Johnny and his family and they quickly built a true connection, complete with three pairs of Luka signature shoes. It was a memorable moment for Johnny and his family. When Dončić’s teammates all stopped by to greet Johnny, it simply put an unforgettable cap on the evening.
That sort of thing happens often with Dončić. His community outreach has involved a wide-ranging scope of philanthropic events and initiatives, including:
Cookies with Santa: An annual event for the Mavericks, it’s become one of the occasions that brings out the personality in Dončić. He dons a Santa hat and engages in heartwarming fashion with Dallas-area children in a festive atmosphere. Laughs, stories and, of course, lots of cookies are provided for all. He brought smiles to the kids’ faces, but also lasting memories for their families.
50 Strong: The Luka Extravaganza on Dec. 20 hosted 50 youth at American Airlines Center as they watched the Mavericks take on the Los Angeles Clippers. Dončić handled everything for the students, most of whom had never experience an NBA game in person. He not only arranged the transportation and a wonderful meal, but then surprised the kids with a meet-and-greet after the game.
Luka’s Elves at NERF and Jordan: Students from three Dallas Independent School District campuses received an array of NERF basketball hoops, gear, toys and gifts. Luka and his helpers handed out the gifts to kids from Cedar Crest Elementary, Story Middle School and Bishop Dunne Catholic School, plus youngsters from the Heroes Foundation.
Mavs in Madrid: While playing against Luka’s former team, Real Madrid, in Spain, Dončić made sure to stop by a local children’s hospital to meet some of the most loyal fans of his in the world. As a fluent speaker of Spanish, he was a big hit with the young folks.
Cook Children’s Health Care: Dončić organized a number of gifts, including hand-knitted hats, blankets and more that were distributed to families of nearly 100 prematurely born babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Cook Children’s. Mothers also were given gift cards for manicures offered onsite and a professional photographer was there to photo family moments. Luka’s foundation worked with Child Life Dept. to identify 25 NICU parents who needed financial assistance with mortgages, rent, utilities and other basic needs. He also helped refurbish the Family Care Room with new furniture and paint, making the place where bad news often is delivered more comforting.
Slovenia Youth Care Center: A major part of his community service derives from the Luka Dončić Foundation, which hosted a holiday party and distributed gifts to 68 children living at the youth-care center Mici Belic Ljubljana. The center serves adolescents who have faced significant hardships in their young lives and have been admitted to grow socially, emotionally and academically without the pressures of their often-tumultuous home lives. Luka’s foundation also hosted a festive party and delivered holiday gifts to 56 children and teens at the residential and counseling institution Verzej in Slovenia. The center focuses on educating about emotional and behavioral problems in kids, as well as those with learning disabilities.
Not just a superstar on the court: Dončić not only gives his time, but also his treasure. He truly has been a superstar when it comes to fundraising, particularly at the Mavs Ball, which is the Mavs Foundation premier fundraising event each year. Players get decked out for the blue-tie affair and they mingle at a cocktail hour and host a table for the evening with some of the Mavericks’ largest donors and sponsors. The event raised $2-million at the 2024 event. One of the largest donors during the evening was Dončić. He helped auctioneers with his jovial personality, bringing out the highest bidders for items like playing NBA 2K with the team and a trip to Slovenia. Dončić himself was the winner of several auction items and he ended up donating $40,000 on the evening to the Mavs Foundation.
Meanwhile, the Luka Dončić Foundation serves the health and well-being of kids through play. The foundation’s mission is that “we believe all children deserve the benefits of play and that by giving them that, we can unleash their true potential – socially, creatively, cognitively, emotionally and physically.
The LDF does that through several programs, including:
Play Therapy: This initiative provides pathways to play-based mental and physical health therapy for children ages 3 through 10 who are experiencing social, emotional, behavioral and physical disorders.
Play Access: This ensures that kids 3 through 16 have transportation, equipment and entry fees into childhood sports teams, play venues and group activities.
Play Environments: To create a custom play environment within local communities in which kids of all ages have personalized healthy and easy ways to play.
Play Challenges: Developing one-off play challenges with brand partners and fan participation to raise funds for children’s play projects.
These wide-ranging efforts are why Dončić leaves a lasting impression off the court as well as on it.
X: @ESefko
Share and comment