NBA Insider Says There Are Negative Stories About Luka Dončić Dallas Mavericks Are Not Saying
NBA insider Marc J. Spears of ESPN said on Monday that there are negative stories about Luka Dončić that the Dallas Mavericks are not saying.
After the Mavericks traded Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers last season, Dallas leaked a whole bunch of stories to the media bashing Dončić’s diet, work ethic, weight and conditioning.
Dončić 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.
Dončić was eligible to sign a five-year, $345 million extension with the Mavericks this summer, but Dallas general manager Nico Harrison was never going to offer Dončić the supermax extension.
Harrison, who targeted Anthony Davis in the Dončić trade, no longer wanted the Mavericks to orbit around Dončić, who is expected to sign an extension with the Lakers this weekend. Dallas traded Dončić, Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber to Los Angeles for Davis and Max Christie.
A few days after the Mavericks traded Dončić to the Lakers, Dallas governor Patrick Dumont insinuated that Dončić didn’t work hard.
“If you look at the greats in the league, the people you and I grew up with — [Michael] Jordan, [Larry] Bird, Kobe [Bryant], Shaq [O’Neal] — they worked really hard, every day, with a singular focus to win,” Dumont said. “And if you don’t have that, it doesn’t work. And if you don’t have that, you shouldn’t be part of the Dallas Mavericks. That’s who we want. I’m unwavering on this. The entire organization knows this. This is how I operate outside of basketball. This is the only way to be competitive and win. If you want to take a vacation, don’t do it with us.”
One of the best players in the NBA, Dončić transformed his body this offseason by going on a gluten-free, low-sugar diet, per Men’s Health. The 26-year-old point-forward has also gone on an intermittent fasting plan designed to limit inflammation and help his body recover better.
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