The Dallas Mavericks ended a long professional relationship with Luka Doncic in the trade market. After seven years with the team, he left for the Los Angeles Lakers. His departure raised many questions about what happened behind the scenes such as his poor physical condition. However, Doncic denied those claims. Even more, his entourage reportedly accused the Mavericks of not managing his injuries properly.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Luka Doncic’s entourage has had concerns with the Dallas Mavericks for quite some time. They believe the team has mishandled his injuries, and frustration has continued to build. The breaking point came when Doncic suffered his fourth left calf strain in just two years. They point to one key issue. In their view, this latest injury came as a result of the Mavericks bringing him back too soon from a previous injury.
After Luka Doncic’s injury, reports said the Dallas Mavericks blamed his recurring issues on poor physical conditioning. This angered Luka’s entourage, who insisted he needed three more weeks to recover fully. Although they eventually got their way, the disagreement damaged the relationship between both sides. As a result, the situation ended with the team trading the player.
However, the problem goes beyond Luka Doncic’s trade. Anthony Davis got injured during his debut. The medical staff had cleared him to play and said he had no physical issues. However, fans strongly criticized that decision. They argued that the eagerness to debut him led directly to the injury.
Luka Doncic, former star in the Dallas Mavericks.
In addition, several other players also got injured. This raised serious concerns about the team’s Athletic Performance staff. As a result, many began to question whether there is a deeper issue affecting player health and recovery.
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Dallas Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont reportedly shifts stance on GM Nico Harrison
Dallas Mavericks staff member from injury-riddled team reportedly deemed unqualified for the job
The Dallas Mavericks may have found a solution to their ongoing injury problems. Tim MacMahon reported that Nico Harrison agreed to bring Keith Belton into the Athletic Performance department. This move aimed to improve the team’s health and conditioning. However, the decision raised questions. Belton reportedly does not meet the NBA‘s official requirements to serve as a certified strength coach.
“According to the National Strength Coaches Association (NSCA) database, Belton does not have either of the certifications from the association required for NBA strength coaches, per Article XXII of the collective bargaining agreement. The CBA states that an individual hired as a head strength and conditioning coach must have at least three years of experience since receiving those certifications,” reported Tim MacMahon.
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