Tim MacMahon – författare

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.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon goes behind the scenes of Luka Dončić's years with the Dallas Mavericks-before his trade to the Lakers stunned the basketball world-telling the story of a franchise's quest to build a championship team around a prodigy.In 2018, the Dallas Mavericks landed the most hyped prospect in basketball history-teenaged Luka Doncic. With The Wonder Boy, MacMahon takes us beyond the highlights to the madness that ensues as the Mavericks try to avoid blowing their golden opportunity. From the internal power struggles in owner Mark Cuban's front office during the early years of Doncic's career, to the new regime's effort to earn Doncic's loyalty and put the ruthless competitor in position to win, readers will learn never-before-reported details about the saga's biggest moments, including: ·The blockbuster deal for Kristaps Porzingis that blew up in the Mavs' faces·The divorces with coach Rick Carlisle and GM Donnie Nelson·Jalen Brunson's exit after a run to the Western Conference finals·The new pairing with the mercurial Kyrie Irving·The improbable journey to the 2024 FinalsThe Wonder Boy pulls back the curtain on on the Mavs' quest to win it all with their irreplaceable young star, a dilemma every NBA team would love to have.