Luka Doncic’s Decision Likely to Frustrate Mavericks Fans
A week after their season ended with a loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals, the Dallas Mavericks now face an offseason of crucial decisions, particularly regarding Luka Doncic.
Dallas struggled in the Finals due to the absence of a reliable third scorer to support Doncic and Kyrie Irving. This lack of support was a key factor in their defeat by Boston.
Despite Doncic’s impressive performance in the Finals, he appears poised to make a decision that might frustrate Mavs fans: playing for Slovenia in the pre-Olympic qualifiers.
Doncic has already joined the Slovenian National Team to prepare for these qualifiers, and while his knee will be evaluated by the team’s medical staff, indications are that he will play.
Slovenia must win the pre-Olympic qualifier tournament in Greece to secure an Olympic spot. While Dallas anticipated Doncic’s participation with Slovenia this summer, some Mavs fans are unhappy with this decision.
Doncic’s desire to represent his country, which brings him great joy, is understandable, but the risk of injury is concerning. He dealt with injuries throughout the playoffs, including a knee sprain and a thoracic contusion that required pain-killing injections. He had minimal rest before joining the Slovenian team for practice.
Reports during the playoffs suggested Doncic would have been sidelined for weeks if it were the regular season. With less than a week of rest before returning to play, his health during the pre-Olympic qualifiers and potentially the Olympics is critical.
Last summer, a lingering thigh injury from the previous year troubled him during the FIBA World Cup. Given his injury history and recent playoff struggles, participating in the qualifiers is risky for Doncic.
While Doncic’s decision to play for Slovenia is not surprising to those familiar with him, it is a risk many Mavs fans hoped he wouldn’t take. Doncic appeared to be limping when he arrived, and it remains to be seen how well his knee is healing.
Doncic still needs medical clearance to play, but it’s clear this is a priority for him.
Stay tuned for updates on Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks this offseason.
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