Luka Doncic has been one of the best players in the NBA since he entered the league in 2018, but the Dallas Mavericks seem determined to convince everyone that he has serious issues.
The Mavericks have been criticized practically nonstop since they traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this month. Anthony Davis was the big prize that the Mavs landed in the deal, which looked even worse after the 32-year-old big man suffered an injury during his first game with Dallas. Davis has not played since.
But apparently Doncic is headed for a “catastrophe,” or so the Mavericks believe. In a story published on Wednesday, Sam Amick of The Athletic wrote that there are people who had significant concerns about Doncic while watching the five-time All-Star toward the end of his tenure in Dallas.
According to Amick, Doncic’s affinity for drinking beer and smoking hookah bothered some with his former team. There is also a belief that Luka’s health history “will likely lead to catastrophe in the next five years or so.”
Doncic has dealt with some nagging injuries through the first seven years of his career. The most recent was a calf strain that had sidelined him before the blockbuster trade. He has also had a variety of other ailments involving his ankles, knees and more. Doncic has played in 61 or more games in every season he has been in the NBA, however, so he has yet to sustain what most people would describe as a major injury.
Questions about Doncic’s commitment to conditioning are nothing new. He has been mocked over his fluctuating weight in the past, though he continued to play at an elite level.
Many young superstars get more serious about their health and conditioning as they get older. Even if they have concerns, the Lakers are probably banking on that happening with Doncic.
Doncic had 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists while leading the Lakers to a win over the Mavericks on Tuesday night. He seemed to send a clear message to his former team early in the game. The unflattering reports that have been leaking out of Dallas should motivate Doncic even more.
