See how the Mavericks' dynamic rookie, Luka Doncic, deploys his signature step-back jumper to create space on the floor and get buckets. (0:59)

LUKA DONCIC'S HELLO KITTY backpack has rarely been seen inside the American Airlines Center, the rules for Dallas Mavericks rookies notwithstanding.

Last season, Dennis Smith Jr. dragged a variety of his own kid-themed backpacks around to every arena, a harmless rookie rite of passage the Mavs share with many NBA teams. But why the relaxed rules for Doncic, who now carries his only on the road?

"You've got to talk to J.J. Barea," Mavs guard Devin Harris says. "J.J. gave him the pass."

Shooting guard Wesley Matthews half-kiddingly accuses Barea of being "soft" on Doncic, saying the Puerto Rican guard goes easy on the rookie who spent the previous six years in Spain because "they speak Spanish and listen to Bad Bunny together and all that stuff."

But Barea figures Doncic has earned the special treatment due to his professional experience and production. "He's a different rookie," Barea says with a shrug. "He won't follow the rules to perfection, but he's cool about it."

The 6-foot-8 Doncic possesses a rare blend of size, skill and savvy, all essential elements in the Slovenian becoming the youngest Euroleague MVP ever while leading Real Madrid to a title as an 18-year-old last season. But it's the kid's combination of joy and confidence that awes his veteran teammates, who embrace the notion that Doncic has quickly become the (baby) face of the franchise.

"He was on a boat every day playing Fortnite, I think."

At this point, Doncic's biggest flaw might be his flair for the spectacular, a factor in him ranking in the league's top 10 in turnovers with 3.5 per game. He hunts highlights, particularly as a passer. It might drive Mavs coach Rick Carlisle crazy when Doncic attempts a high-speed, off-glass alley-oop in transition traffic, but Carlisle accepts that it's part of the deal.

"When you get a player with his kind of feel and creative ability, you've got to give him the latitude to be able to take advantage of his gifts, on the one hand," says Carlisle, who appreciates the "positive vibe" Doncic plays with and his confidence built through years of experience.

"But on the other hand, create enough structure for him to play well with the group."

He is "The Matador," the nickname coined by Mavs player development coach Mike Procopio as a nod to Doncic's showmanship and Spanish roots. That flair for the spectacular might lead to occasional frustration, but man, the 15-14 Mavs are having fun playing with Doncic after two long, miserable seasons in which the playoffs were a pipe dream.

"He's going to be who he is," Matthews says. "For better or worse, that's who he is. He's kind of got that [Manu] Ginobili about him. You live with some of the things because more often than not you're going to get something really good."

Nevertheless, Carlisle will call the occasional timeout just to bark at Doncic after a high-risk decision goes haywire. Case in point: The timeout Carlisle called early in the first quarter of Dallas' Nov. 24 win over the Boston Celtics, Doncic's first start at point guard with Smith sidelined due to a sore right wrist. Doncic dazzled in the first few minutes, dishing out three dimes to teammates for open 3-pointers and knocking down a trey himself. But then, he got greedy.