Stars Come Out: Mahomes, Dez and Eden Hazard Expected to Watch Zion vs. Luka of Mavs

The future of the NBA is not only in good hands, but it invades Dallas when Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks take on Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. ... And The Stars are Coming to the AAC Tonight to See it All
Stars Come Out: Mahomes, Dez and Eden Hazard Expected to Watch Zion vs. Luka of Mavs
Stars Come Out: Mahomes, Dez and Eden Hazard Expected to Watch Zion vs. Luka of Mavs /

DALLAS - Two of the NBA's brightest young stars are set to take center stage on Wednesday night when Zion Williamson and Luka Doncic face off against one another for the first time in their careers. ... and lots of stars are expected to file into the AAC tonight to be part of the scene.

DallasBasketball.com is told that Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is planning on attending, as it former Dallas Cowboys standout Dez Bryant. And we believe Real Madrid soccer star Eden Hazard is on the way as well.

Here's why Hazard is in town ...

Williamson, who missed the first three matchups of the season between the two teams, has exploded out of the gate in his first NBA season, averaging 24 points, seven rebounds and two assists per game, while also hitting an astounding 41.7-percent from three, and 58.8-percent from the floor. 

Not only that, but Williams been incredibly efficient in his early goings, with a PER of 25.6, and an effective field goal percentage of 59.8-percent. In fact, he has also scored at least 20 points in 12 consecutive games coming into Wednesday night and has firmly established himself as a candidate in the race for rookie of the year alongside Ja Morant. 

“His level of force and efficiency is just unprecedented for a player of that age," Rick Carlisle said of the rookie Williamson. "Watching him is a breathtaking experience.”

On the other side for the Mavericks, the reigning rookie of the year, Luka Doncic, has elevated his game to yet another level this season, finding himself in the mix for the NBA's MVP award in just his second professional season. 

Doncic, who turned just 21 on Friday, is averaging 28.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game so far this season, with a 27.9 PER, and 7.4 win shares to his name. 

While the Mavs seem to be a lock for the playoffs thanks to the play of Doncic, as well as his running mate Kristaps Porzingis, Williamson has revitalized his team's playoffs hopes almost overnight, helping the Pelicans climb within just four games of the current eighth seed, the Memphis Grizzlies. 

It will be the first of many primetime clashes between the two rising stars over the next decade and change, but one that also holds immediate significance for both teams this season. ... as evidenced by the eyeballs that will be here at the AAC, too.


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Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com, AllAggies.com, and the Managing Editor of BuckeyesNow.com and TheGroveReport.com. He is also the Editor-In-Chief of RamDigest.com and TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration.  Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network.  When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later.  Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered.  Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan. For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com