From the moment Luka Doncic became a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, leaks from within the Dallas Mavericks organization have shed light on the reasoning behind the blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, high-ranking officials within the Mavericks organization were unhappy with the Slovenian star’s work ethic, physical condition, and personal habits.
There were concerns about habits he had developed during his time with Real Madrid, including a taste for beer and hookah, which led to fears that these behaviors could “likely lead to catastrophe in the next five years or so”.
“Make no mistake, the people who witnessed Doncic’s last days in Dallas do not paint a flattering portrait of the 25-year-old’s professionalism,” the report noted. “They call him lazy. They talk about the weight issues that were such a frequent frustration within their walls”.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks leaves the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half at American Airlines Center. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
“They mention the social habits that The Athletic has reported on — such as a taste for beer and hookah — which have been a point of concern for NBA types since he was a 19-year-old star for Real Madrid who was entering the NBA Draft,” the report continued.
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Mavericks’ Anthony Davis makes big confession about his trade with Lakers’ Luka Doncic
Dallas GM reportedly didn’t want Mavs to orbit around Doncic
The criticisms of Doncic reportedly pushed Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison to reconsider the team’s long-term strategy. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Harrison was determined to move on from the Slovenian star.
“Whispers via league sources suggest that Dallas’ decision-makers, most notably general manager Nico Harrison, no longer wanted Planet Mavericks to orbit around [Luka] Doncic and had grown determined to trade him by this summer at the latest,” Stein reported.
Doncic finds motivation in Mavericks’ leaks
While Doncic has not publicly addressed the Mavericks’ leaks, they appeared to fuel his dominant performance when the Lakers faced his former team. That night, the Slovenian star recorded a triple–double, tallying 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, leading Los Angeles to victory.
“Though Doncic did not publicly comment on the constant flow of leaks from the Mavericks organization disparaging his weight and conditioning, one source close to Doncic told ESPN the comments have served as a motivator,” wrote ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “‘A beast was awakened inside him,’ the source said”.
