Greater than two weeks after the Dallas Mavericks dealt famous person Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA world continues to be coming to phrases with the gorgeous commerce.
Nonetheless, a narrative revealed Monday by The Athletic’s Christian Clark, Mike Vorkunov and Fred Katz on Mavericks GM Nico Harrison sheds new gentle on Dallas’ causes for the commerce.
Doncic was a wunderkind on the court docket, however he did not match the tradition Dallas’ group wished off the court docket. In keeping with The Athletic, Harrison wished Doncic to embrace the “Mamba mentality” of former Los Angeles Lakers famous person Kobe Bryant, who Harrison represented throughout his time with Nike.
Bryant was reknowned for his work ethic, self-discipline and deep dedication to staying in form and bettering his recreation. Doncic’s lack of dedication to staying in form, nevertheless, involved the group.
Per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin’s report from Feb. 2, the Mavericks “had vital frustration … about Doncic’s lack of self-discipline relating to his weight loss plan and conditioning, which group sources thought-about a significant component in his damage points.”
In keeping with The Athletic, Harrison is a obsessive about vitamin and greets folks by asking, “What did you eat today?”
The Athletic additionally reported it wasn’t simply Harrison who had a poor relationship with the Slovenian famous person. Former Mavericks govt Haralabos Voulgaris informed The Athletic some within the entrance workplace had been “terrified” of Doncic, who reportedly obtained preferential therapy that included dictating apply schedules.
The state of the group’s relationship with Doncic could clarify Dallas’ dismissal of director of participant well being and efficiency Casey Smith and different members of the coaching workers who Doncic appreciated.
The Athletic also reported the group by no means supposed to supply Doncic a five-year, $345 million supermax contract extension regardless of the participant’s need to stay with the group.
Apparently, the group’s relationship with the famous person was past restore, information that in all probability will not quell the anger of Dallas’ fan base, which has reacted negatively to the commerce.
The taking part in fashion of ahead Anthony Davis, the primary piece Dallas acquired within the commerce for Doncic, meshes with Harrison’s defensive-minded philosophy and the tradition he desires the Mavericks to determine, per The Athletic. This would possibly not be straightforward, nevertheless, as Davis is predicted to overlook a number of weeks after struggling a left abductor pressure in his debut with the Mavericks on Feb. 8.
The Mavericks (30-26) stay within the playoff hunt, however the Doncic commerce aftershocks may rock this group far past this season. Dallas resumes play after the All-Star break on Friday in opposition to New Orleans.
