Mavericks game vs. Real Madrid, Luka Doncic’s former team, officially announced

The Mavericks officially announced their long-rumored preseason game against Real Madrid, Luka Doncic’s former team, on Oct. 10 in Madrid’s WiZink Center.

The game is part of a 12-day trip that will include two preseason games in Abu Dhabi at 11 a.m. on Oct. 5 and 7 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the NBA announced in May, that will stream live on mavs.com.

Tipoff for the Real Madrid game is at 1:45 p.m. Dallas time, and it will air on Bally Sports Southwest. It will mark Dallas’ first preseason game against a non-NBA team on foreign soil since it faced Alba Berlin in Germany, and FC Barcelona in Spain, in 2012, the team said in a news release.

The Mavs will then return home for a fourth preseason game against the Detroit Pistons at 7 p.m. on Oct. 20 that will air on Bally.

“Following our preseason games in Abu Dhabi, we are thrilled to play the game we love for the MFFLs in Madrid,” Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall said in a prepared statement. “Our team is lucky to have one of the greatest international NBA ambassadors in Luka, and we look forward to connecting with Real Madrid and their fans.”

Madrid will be a homecoming for Doncic. He began his professional career with Real Madrid’s senior team, playing three seasons (2015-18). Doncic was voted the Final Four Most Valuable Player as Real Madrid won the 2018 championship, weeks before he was selected No. 3 overall in the NBA draft and acquired by the Mavericks.

In Doncic’s five-season tenure, the Mavericks have played a preseason game in Vancouver and a December 2019 regular season game in Mexico City, where his fluency in Spanish and international draw thrilled local fans.

Doncic is currently playing overseas for his native Slovenia, which defeated Cape Verde on Wednesday to advance in the Basketball World Cup in Japan.

Mavericks preseason schedule

• Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. (Dallas time) vs. Timberwolves, Abu Dhabi (mavs.com)
• Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. vs. Timberwolves, Abu Dhabi (mavs.com)
• Oct. 10 at 1:45 p.m. vs. Real Madrid, Madrid (BSSW)
• Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. vs. Pistons, Dallas (BSSW)

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