In an interview with Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning Information, Dumont strongly implied that the departed Doncic wasn’t like all-time greats Michael Jordan, Larry Chicken, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, who “labored actually onerous, on a regular basis with a singular focus to win.” He added, “If you do not have that, you should not be a part of the Dallas Mavericks.”
It is the most recent remark from Mavericks administration, who’ve criticized Doncic’s weight, consuming and poor protection since sending him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. However Dumont selected curious examples of gamers he believed have been singularly dedicated to successful.
Shaquille O’Neal was infamous for “playing himself into shape” yearly after reporting to coaching camp off form. Coming off of back-to-back championships within the fall of 2001, the 335-pound O’Neal informed the New York Occasions,
“I gave it quite a lot of thought, after which I made a decision, I am not going to lose 30 kilos and be a skinnyhead. I like being huge. I am the NBA’s greatest NFL participant. I obtained a soccer physique, child.”
The Lakers gained their third title in a row that season.
Larry Chicken injured his finger in a bar fight throughout the 1985 Jap Convention Finals, and his Boston Celtics went on to lose the NBA Finals with Chicken taking pictures below 45% (he was at 52.2% within the common season).
“I’ve made quite a lot of errors,” Chicken informed the Los Angeles Occasions after the season. “I prefer to drink beer and exit and have a great time.”
Chicken and the Celtics went on to win their third NBA championship the subsequent season, and would attain the NBA Finals once more in 1987. Even when Chicken did do an low season coaching program in 1987, he told the Chicago Tribune, “Solely factor I needed to verify of is that I may drink beer after I play golf after exercising.”
Even Jordan, the relentless competitor, as soon as took a 100-mile limo experience to Atlantic Metropolis and gambled till 2:30 a.m. on the evening earlier than Recreation 2 of the 1993 Jap Convention Finals. The Chicago Bulls misplaced that sport earlier than occurring to win the collection and their third straight NBA title.
The Mavericks might nicely haven’t needed to commit over $300M to Doncic and make him the long-term way forward for the franchise. However their fixed criticism of their former participant after sending him away is distasteful and petty.
Plus, Dumont has proved together with his ignorance of basketball through the use of Chicken and O’Neal as examples of singularly-focused gamers. If Dumont thinks Shaq took care of his physique and solely cared about successful, it is secure for Mavericks followers to query his basketball judgment in different areas as nicely.
Just like the knowledge of buying and selling a 25-year-old, five-time All-NBA guard.
