Luka Doncic’s first clash against the Mavericks proved a cagey affair. The newly-minted Laker strayed away the spotlight for much of the night, largely playing second fiddle to fellow supernova LeBron James — particularly in crunch time.
But when he was called upon, the Slovenian star tended to perform admirably. His shooting was largely ineffective. But his fingerprints were sprawled across Los Angeles’ offense otherwise. A 19-point, 15-rebounds, 13-assist triple double a glimpse of Doncic’s glint skillset. So too did his link-up play with James, moments of bliss that took the internet by storm.
Doncic’s trade brought with it plenty of derision across segments of social media. That seemed to have made its way to Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night, as well — fans leaped sardonic praise towards Dallas general manager Nico Harrison for his decision to deal Doncic. Harrison watched on in the stands.
Nevertheless, the Mavs needed some sort of ideological justification to part ways with their 25-year old cornerstone. The Athletic’s Sam Amick offered one reason Dallas was so quick to dispose of Doncic’s talent so quickly: an aversion to his off-court habits.
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Here’s what you need to know.
Why Mavericks had ‘issue’ with Luka Doncic’s hookah, dietary habits
Doncic’s trade took the NBA world by shock, drawing instant rebuke across league circles. But as Amick explained, the decision was motivated, at least in part, by concern over Doncic’s off-the-court habits.
Per Amick, Dallas’ front office was dismayed by Doncic’s fluctuating weight as well as his taste for beer and hookah, all of which placed him at odds with the organization’s higher-ups — namely Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison.
“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,” Amick wrote. “They call him lazy. … They predict his basketball demise, highlighting a health history that, as some see it, will likely lead to catastrophe in the next five years or so.”
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Harrison, a known Kobe Bryant acolyte, is believed to desire the sort of “win-at-all-costs” mentality that the late Lakers supernova was known for. Doncic’s off-court attitude seemed to cause tension between him and Harrison. And in the tug for organizational power, Harrison won out.
Los Angeles benefitted from the Mavericks’ unease. The Lakers are banking on the Slovenian standout’s talent shining through during his time in Tinseltown. With LeBron James available to offer on- and off-the-floor pointers, Doncic’s game could very well reach new heights in Los Angeles. His triple-double gave a window into his captivating potential. And he wasn’t even at his best.
Doncic’s trade was always going to inspire debate among masses of NBA fans — not to mention fellow players and team personnel. The tug of war between player and former employer remains as contentious as ever. Ultimately, there are very few examples of teams accommodating their superstar’s interests. Harrison bucked the trend. Whether that works out for him or Dallas more broadly remains to be seen.
