Luka Dončić Nearing Return After Calf Injury, Could He Play in Mavericks' Preseason Finale vs. Bucks?
Luka Dončić is nearing a return from a calf injury. Could he play in the Mavericks’ preseason finale against the Bucks as Dallas prepares for the regular season.
LOS ANGELES — Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić has yet to play in any preseason games after sustaining a left calf contusion early in training camp. However, after completing multiple lengthy workouts on Monday at Intuit Dome, he appears to be trending strongly toward a return to competition.
“He’s doing great. He had a great workout today,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said before Monday’s game.
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Dončić was getting his typical work in with assistant coaches Darrell Armstrong, God Shammgod, and Marko Milić — working on catch-and-shoot jumpers along with the usual shots from all over the floor, but a clear focus on perimeter shot creation with the usual sprinkled-in drives against Armstrong for flashy finishes.
Dončić ended his morning workout with a game against Armstrong and Shammgod with the rules being he had to take only three-point attempts. It seemed they were planning to play to 10 points where a made basket was a point for Dončić and a miss was a point for the coaches, but the score must be decided by two points or more.
The pre-game workout Dončić went through was more like an extended version of his routine from last season. He usually spends time in the post, playing out of simulated pick-and-roll, and isolation—taking many variations of different shots. He took a share of step-backs and pull-ups from different spots against various simulated defensive approaches, along with drives for finishes and floaters.
The work he did inside the three-point line was a mix of tough pull-ups while intentionally using the glass at times. He looked like to be in usual form, including some athletic finishes on drives or using a flashy handle to make the defender look foolish—leading to light-hearted trash talk with coaches as he usually does.
It remains uncertain whether Dončić will be available to play in the Mavericks’ preseason finale on Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks. With Tuesday being a travel day, Wednesday would likely be the earliest opportunity for an update.
“We’re off and traveling tomorrow, so hopefully, he has another good workout on Wednesday,” Kidd explained. “From everything I’ve seen and everything I’ve been told, he’s doing great.”
Kidd has mentioned that the Mavericks intend to use their preseason finale as a “dress rehearsal.” With Kyrie Irving sitting out Monday’s 110-96 loss against the Clippers for rest, the chance to see Dončić, Irving, and Klay Thompson together on the floor could come against the Bucks.
If Dončić plays on Thursday, it would mark the Mavericks’ first and only opportunity to see him alongside Irving and Thompson in external competition before the regular season begins. It’s important to note that preseason injury timelines can be unpredictable. For instance, P.J. Washington recently returned sooner than expected, making his preseason debut against the Clippers, despite earlier doubts. Washington started in Monday’s game after being cleared to play. As with all injuries, timelines can shift quickly, and Dončić’s status remains something to monitor.
Whether Dončić suits up against the Bucks or waits until the Oct. 24 regular-season opener against the San Antonio Spurs, he appears close to midseason form based on his workouts. Kidd emphasized earlier in the process that there was “no concern” about Dončić’s availability for the start of the regular season.
Dončić is coming off his fifth consecutive All-NBA First Team campaign, where he averaged a league-leading 33.9 points, along with 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game in the regular season. He also posted 28.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game in the postseason, guiding the Mavericks to an NBA Finals appearance.
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