Luka Dončić Ready for Mavericks' Season Opener After Injury: Talks Chemistry with Klay Thompson, Team Goals
Luka Dončić discusses his return from injury, building chemistry with Klay Thompson, and the Mavericks’ goals ahead of their season opener after Tuesday’s practice.
DALLAS — Luka Dončić spoke to the media Tuesday after the Dallas Mavericks’ latest practice, providing an update on his status ahead of the team’s regular-season opener against the San Antonio Spurs in Thursday’s matchup. The Slovenian superstar has been sidelined with a left calf contusion, which kept him out of training camp and all four preseason games.
Dončić, who said he feels fully recovered, expressed his excitement about returning to game action, noting that the team has been practicing intensely as it prepares for Thursday’s season opener. He also discussed building chemistry with new teammate Klay Thompson, what fans can expect from the Mavericks this year, and the development of young players like Dereck Lively II.
With expectations high, Dončić highlighted the team’s goals, his offseason focuses after playing with the Slovenian national team, and how Dallas plans to set the tone early in the season.
Full Q&A with Luka Dončić After Tuesday’s Practice
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Q: How do you feel after today’s practice? Ready for Thursday?
Luka Dončić: “I think we’re practicing great. I’m just happy to be playing back again. We’re playing intentionally, so I think we’re ready.”
Q: Jason Kidd mentioned that if it were a postseason situation, you probably could have played already. Was it more of a precautionary decision to hold you out?
Luka Dončić: “Yeah, it wasn’t an easy injury. It doesn’t hurt a lot, but you need to let it heal. Maybe I even started too early, but it’s fine now. I’m practicing everything, so I’m good.’“
Q: Do you feel like you missed anything by not playing in a preseason game, especially in terms of meshing with new teammates?
Luka Dončić: “Probably. I haven’t played a game since the national team. Games are always different from practice, so we’ll see on Thursday. There’s going to be excitement. I’m really happy to be back.”
Q: Has Klay Thompson been able to adjust to the style of your passes?
Luka Dončić: “I think so. We still haven’t played a game together, but we got to know each other this last week in practice. It’s going to be fun out there.”
Q: What should people expect from seeing you and Kyrie Irving on the court together this season?
Luka Dončić: “We have to show every day what kind of players we are and what we’ve been working on. We’ve been working really hard this preseason, and people should expect us to play 100%. We need to show who we are and battle every game.”
Q: What are some of the early goals the team has, especially regarding the tone you want to set this season?
Luka Dončić: “Our goal is to set the tone early so people know we’re here. We’re not joking around. We’ve been working hard, and the new guys have shown they can really play and help us. We just need to play hard, that’s it.”
Q: How has Klay been handling your passes, especially the late ones?
Luka Dončić: “That’ll come later in the games, but there’s not much to adjust. If he’s open, he’s going to knock them down. He just needs to be himself. That’s what we want.”
Q: Do you feel a difference when Klay is screening for you or when he’s in a pick-and-roll?
Luka Dončić: “Yeah, it’s Klay Thompson. Of course, I feel different. He’s one of the greatest shooters ever, so it’s way easier for me to play with him.”
Q: We haven’t seen you in a game yet. Is there anything new you’re bringing to the court this year?
Luka Dončić: “I wasn’t working on anything specific, just getting better at everything. I did a lot of catch-and-shoot practice, playing with pace, improving leadership, and just trying to win every game.”
Q: What have you seen new from Dereck Lively II?
Luka Dončić: “New? From last season? Yeah, I see some hook shots. (laughs) He’s working hard. He’s a great kid, and I see him putting in the work every time. It’s no surprise to me. I knew he’d be this great, and he keeps working. After a solid first season, he didn’t stop. He wasn’t satisfied, and that’s what I respect most about him.”
Q: Reflecting on last postseason, did you learn anything that could help this year?
Luka Dončić: “Why not look back? We made it to the NBA Finals, which was unbelievable and very hard. Looking back helps us understand how difficult it is to get there. Every detail matters, and it’s important to have this mentality from the beginning.”
Q: With this lineup, do you think it’s possible to have just as good of a season individually, but maybe score less?
Luka Dončić: “Yeah, probably. It depends on the defense and what they give us. Every game will be different. Sometimes they’ll double me, sometimes they won’t. Sometimes they’ll take away the lob, sometimes not. It just depends on how the defense plays us, and we’ll go from there, game to game.”
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