At my age, I’m not very comfortable using the word “crush” anymore to describe someone I really like because I feel it’s the kind of feeling only teenagers get. Even for me, it’s kinda cringy already.
But I will always have that giddy fangirl heart. These days, my fangirl heart beats only for the point guard of the Dallas Mavericks: Luka Dončić.
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Now before you all go “Que Horror!” and remind me of the 23-year age difference, hear me out: I’m not a potential cougar at 46. I may have a crush on him, but I’m under no romantic, sexual delusions whatsoever—as what I unabashedly have before with my other celebrity crushes such as the likes of the Colins Farrell and Firth, Michael Fassbender and Chris Evans. (Yes, I fantasized about meeting and eventually marrying them).
To simply put, I just really, really like Luka because he gives me the tingly, giggly, butterfly-ish feeling that I don’t get to feel often since I became a midlifer.
Besides, I don’t think I’ll ever be in a degree of devotion that will lead to some sort of a worship syndrome and obsession towards a Gen Z celebrity like Luka. I think I’m old enough to keep myself grounded and be a mature fan who just highly admires him. With his stature, I’m pretty sure he had millions of die-hard fans from the first day he set foot on court and I am no match compared to them. Frankly, I don’t think Luka himself would give me the time of day being that I’m not as ardent and fervent as the others that would watch him live on stadiums and follow his every move.
See, if you claim to be a fan of an athlete, others gauge it by regular game attendance, stalwart dedication and loyalty. I fall short on these since I’m relatively a new Luka fan, and I don’t think I can keep up with the diehards.
I loved basketball growing up but I wasn’t exactly an NBA fan. The last time I was invested was during the championship games of Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals because I was then a fan of Dirk Nowitzki. After that, my interest in basketball just died down slowly with their absence in the succeeding playoffs and when teams like the Golden State Warriors dominated the Western Conference.
Luka came to NBA at a time when I didn’t care much about basketball anymore. The first time I saw him was in a fan-made video of him seemingly flirting with a female referee: “[I'm] fouling in love with you” sometime during the 2020-2021 NBA season. He’s cute and all that, but I thought he was just a pretty face because I never saw him play (this was the pandemic, and I don’t watch NBA unless it’s the playoffs or the finals). I was too out of touch that I didn’t even know that Luka was the Rookie of the Year for the 2018-2019 season and a franchise leader for the Mavs.
Even so, when my brothers would watch the NBA games, I’d always look for Luka, which of course won’t be there since his team never reached the finals.
Then the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 was held recently here in Manila. My first question as the main opening ceremony drew near was, “Is Luka gonna be here?”. I was told that he won’t because his team, Slovenia, belongs to another group that will be playing in Okinawa Arena, Okinawa City.
However, Slovenia got in the Quarterfinals and the games will be at the MOA Arena. By this time everybody who knew of my crush on him was telling me about it, but when I saw that the ticket price for the game, (to be anywhere within a fair distance from him) is between 11k-14k pesos, I knew I won’t be able to afford it.
So like most people, I settled on watching Luka play on TV. And from then on, that’s all I’ve been doing. Now I understand the “Luka Magic” everybody was talking about. More than his looks, I was drawn to his skills. He does have a phenomenal talent, something that he had since he’s young and playing for Real Madrid. I’d find myself watching videos of him until the wee hours and just love seeing his on-court reactions, spectacular passes and jaw-dropping shots. Watching him is like escapism to me because it’s fun and exciting. These days I’m lacking so much of that.
Luka may be known as a big complainer and many had already expressed concerns about his on-court temper, but even his outbursts are strangely appealing to me. He’s so damn fine he’s almost faultless, my goodness. When others see it as temper, I see it as passion.
Now before some of you rain on my parade and remind me that I shouldn’t have this bazodee feeling for someone as young at him (He’s only 24, for Pete’s sake!), know that I am well aware of that. I even joked that his father, Sasa Dončić, is almost the same age as I am, that maybe I should go for the dad instead (LOL). And if you tell me that he has since been engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Anamaria, let me tell you that I’m rooting for them and I actually find them gorgeous as a couple.
I have the ain’t-no-way-I-have-a-chance-celebrity-crush but if it makes my day so much better, what could be so wrong with it?
I mean, how could I not with that smile?
