Report: People Who Witnessed Luka Doncic’s Last Days With Mavericks Don’t Paint Flattering Portrait Of His Professionalism

According to NBA reporter Sam Amick of The Athletic, people who witnessed Luka Doncic‘s last days with the Dallas Mavericks don’t paint a flattering portrait of his professionalism. 

The Mavericks shocked the sports world by trading Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. 

“Make no mistake, the people who witnessed Dončić’s last days in Dallas do not paint a flattering portrait of the 25-year-old’s professionalism,” Amick wrote. “They call him lazy. They talk about the weight issues that were such a frequent frustration within their walls. They mention the social habits that The Athletic has reported on — such as a taste for beer and hookah — which have been a point of concern for NBA types since he was a 19-year-old star for Real Madrid who was entering the NBA Draft. They predict his basketball demise, highlighting a health history that, as some see it, will likely lead to catastrophe in the next five years or so.”

Doncic appeared in 422 games with the Mavericks. He averaged 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists and made five All-Star teams and five All-NBA teams.

The Mavericks were not happy with Doncic’s weight and conditioning. Doncic was eligible to sign a five-year, $345 million extension with Dallas this summer, but the franchise was never going to offer him the supermax extension. 

The Lakers defeated the Mavericks on Tuesday (2/25). Doncic finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists. Los Angeles fans chanted, “Thank you Nico” throughout the game since Dallas GM Nico Harrison was at the game. 

“To put it bluntly, the vast majority of people I’ve spoken to within the league about this deal continue to believe that Dallas made a grave mistake,” Amick wrote. “Especially considering how the 32-year-old Davis’ adductor strain, suffered just 31 minutes into his Mavericks tenure in a game against Houston on Feb. 8, only confirmed all those doubts about his reliability.”

Doncic is averaging 19.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists with the Lakers. He and LeBron James are 3-2 together.