Tommy Marshall III wanted to meet Luka Doncic for Christmas.
The Dallas Mavericks shortly before Monday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, he got his wish.
Tommy and his family met the Mavericks superstar outside the team’s locker room just before Doncic went through his pregame workout routine. A smile and a look of disbelief graced Tommy’s face as Doncic signed a basketball and two towels that also featured Kyrie Irving.
“Wow, this is so cool,” said the 20-year-old Make-A-Wish honoree.
Outsiders
Tommy was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia at the age of 14 and dropped out of high school for a year to focus on the life-threatening disease. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, he suffered a relapse and prepared for a bone marrow transplant. His 17-year-old younger brother, Andrew Marshall, was his bone marrow donor. Andrew also took the opportunity to meet Doncic on Monday.
Doncic signed a basketball, two towels also featuring Kyrie Irving and presented Tommy and Andrew with three pairs Doncic’s signature Jordan Brand shoes. After the transplant, Tommy fought to get back into shape to play basketball. He is a member of the men’s developmental basketball team at Trine University in Angola, Indiana.
Make-A-Wish participant Thomas Marshall III unpacks a pair of shoes given to him by Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic before an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the American Airlines Center on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
“When I play now, I look good,” Tommy told Doncic.
After posing for a few photos, Doncic brought the towels to the Mavericks’ locker room and had them returned with Irving’s signature.
“It was a great experience,” said Tommy. “Luka is such a great guy and this organization is great. It has been a great experience here.”
You would think that Tommy, a native of Novi, Michigan – a suburb of Detroit – would naturally root for the Pistons. But he said he is a Mavericks fan and has been drawn to Doncic since he entered the NBA in 2018.
“He’s such a great player,” Tommy said. “His skills, how he sets the pace of the game, made me want to meet him and get up close.”
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic presents gifts to Make-A-Wish participant Thomas Marshall III (center) and his brother Andrew Marshall before an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the American Airlines Center on Monday, December 23, 2024, in Dallas .(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
Tommy said sharing the experience with his family is what he will remember most about meeting his favorite player.
“Just seeing these cool things with my family,” he said. “They are the ones when I went through this journey with cancer, they say it takes a village and they are part of my village. Thanking God every day for good health and all this.”
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