Luka Doncic has quickly emerged as one of the biggest stars in the NBA, but Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle does not feel the reigning Rookie of the Year is getting the star treatment.
Doncic scored 39 points in Saturday’s overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets, and only six of them came from the free throw line. After the game, Carlisle was critical of the officiating crew for not giving Doncic some calls. He said that has been a theme all season.
Rick Carlisle about the way teams defend Luka Doncic: “They’re beating the s— out of him. He’s handling it well, but teams are taking liberties with him.” He says it’s happening more frequently as the season goes along despite constant communication with refs. “It isn’t right.”
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) January 4, 2020
Doncic agreed with his coach, but he said basketball is a “physical game” and he just has to keep approaching it the same way he has been.
Luka Doncic: "It’s true, I’m not going to lie. But you know, it’s just basketball. It’s a physical game. If the refs see it, they’re going to call it. If they don’t see it, they’re not going to call it. But I’ve just got to keep going. Just keep going." https://t.co/sqpHljXBCX
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) January 5, 2020
Whatever Doncic has done through the early part of the season, it’s working. The 20-year-old is averaging 29.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game. Those are MVP-like numbers, and they could be even better if he got more calls. Doncic is shooting 81.3 percent from the free throw line this season, so that is a strong part of his game.
While it may be easy to forget with his level of play this season and recent endorsement endorsement opportunity, Doncic is still familiarizing himself with officiating crews and vice-versa. If he keeps playing the way he has, the whistle should go in his favor more often.
