Luka Doncic‘s status for the immediate future remains uncertain after the Mavericks star suffered a left calf strain during the Christmas Day game against Minnesota.
According to a team announcement, Doncic will be reevaluated in a month, but the injury has already become a concerning development for the Mavs. The injury occurred during a drive to the basket in the second quarter, where Doncic appeared to injure himself without any direct contact from Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels.
The star guard underwent an MRI and has since consulted with doctors to determine the best course of action for his recovery.
This is not the first time Doncic’s left leg has been an issue. The 24-year-old has struggled with calf injuries over the past few years, including previous strains to his left calf and a recent left heel contusion that kept him out for a period earlier in the season.
He also missed the entire preseason due to a left calf contusion, making this recurring injury even more worrisome.
Despite Doncic’s absence, the Mavericks managed to secure a 98-89 win over Phoenix on Friday night, showing resilience and depth. Head coach Jason Kidd was quick to adopt a “next man up” mentality, noting that the team has already had to play without Doncic earlier this season.
“An injury is an injury,” Kidd said. “He’s had a couple of them this year and we’ve played without him. Next man up mentality. That’s what we’re facing right now.”
Naji Marshall, who took Doncic’s place in the starting lineup, won’t be available for the time being due to a four-game suspension for his role in an altercation with Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic.
With the Mavericks facing 15 opponents in the next month, Kidd emphasized the importance of managing minutes, particularly for Kyrie Irving.
“The big picture is always in focus,” Kidd said. “Running Kyrie up over 40 minutes, that puts us in a different situation.”
In a separate but concerning incident, Kidd confirmed that Doncic is “doing fine” after his house was broken into on Friday, with $30K worth of jewelry stolen.
Fortunately, no one was home at the time. Kidd noted that this type of incident has been alarmingly common among professional athletes, referencing at least six similar break-ins since September.
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