The Dallas Mavericks have one of the best young basketball stars in the world at Luka Dončić, whose rise to stardom came very quickly. But his impact on North Texas extends far beyond gambling as he continues to make a name for himself… and the rest.

“He’s pretty much become the face of the NBA right now,” said Mavericks fan and NBC 5 sports producer Victor Nguyen. “So many people have become fans in such a short time.”

So many fans who know the name, applaud the name, and now use the name for their children.

According to Baylor Scott and White, the name “Luka” has skyrocketed in popularity by over 400% since the Mavs star arrived in Dallas.

So we asked the 6-foot-7 superstar: “Luka, you’re used to signing autographs and seeing your jersey in the stands, but what goes through your mind when you hear that? do people literally name their children after you? “

“I think it’s a lot different from the shirts,” Dončić said. “Obviously, jerseys, basketball players, you see people in your jersey. But it’s something for your whole life. It’s something that strikes me differently. It’s really, really, really special. I have to say thank you to everyone. I do not know what to say. But for me it’s a big deal and it’s very special.

Very special, and a decision that NBC 5 sports producer and big Mavericks fan Victor Nguyen and his wife Daisy agreed was the right fit for their son, Maximillian Luka Nguyen, born in February.

“It wasn’t an immediate yes,” said Victor. “I kind of had to work it a bit. There were a few months of persuasion once we found out we were having a boy. I think I’ve nagged her enough over the last few months where she finally gave in the last few months as a middle name, not a first name. It was a compromise.

Victor Nguyen

“We told my mother-in-law what was the middle name and whose last name it was, and her first question was, ‘Is he a good player? Daisy said. “Once we said yes, she said, ‘okay, I guess that’s okay then.’”

Named after a very good player whose NBA journey started with being surrounded by basketball since he was just out of nursery, although at 22 he’s not quite ready to start making decisions on the names of future Dončić.

Question: So people name their kids after you, but if you had to name one of your Mavs teammates, who would it be?

“I stick to other names,” Doncic said with a laugh. “It’s still a long way to go, so I’ll think about it. I’ll let you know in a few years.

Photos: Luka makes a name for herself … and the others

In the meantime, Luka’s notoriety continues to grow, with the second best-selling jersey in the entire NBA, with a style of play that fans can’t get enough of.

“Obviously he’s an entertainer, where he bounces the ball off his chest, hits it in the basket, does all these crazy things that go viral, and the fans love it, they’re totally into him,” said Mavericks play-by-play presenter Chuck Cooperstein. “And I think he’s a basketball fan. He knows exactly what he’s doing there that few 22-year-olds have ever had that feeling about them.

A rare feeling, for a rare player, with Luka making a name for himself and now for many new North Texans – like Maximillian Luka Nguyen.