Greater than two weeks after the Dallas Mavericks dealt celebrity Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA world continues to be coming to phrases with the gorgeous commerce.
Nevertheless, a narrative printed 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 needed off the court docket. In line with The Athletic, Harrison needed Doncic to embrace the “Mamba mentality” of former Los Angeles Lakers celebrity 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 enhancing his sport. Doncic’s lack of dedication to staying in form, nevertheless, involved the staff.
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 food plan and conditioning, which staff sources thought of a significant factor in his harm points.”
In line with The Athletic, Harrison is a obsessive about diet and greets individuals by asking, “What did you eat today?”
The Athletic additionally reported it wasn’t simply Harrison who had a poor relationship with the Slovenian celebrity. Former Mavericks government Haralabos Voulgaris instructed The Athletic some within the entrance workplace had been “terrified” of Doncic, who reportedly bought preferential therapy that included dictating follow schedules.
The state of the staff’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 staff.
Apparently, the staff’s relationship with the celebrity was past restore, information that most likely will not quell the anger of Dallas’ fan base, which has reacted negatively to the commerce.
The taking part in type of ahead Anthony Davis, the principle piece Dallas acquired within the commerce for Doncic, meshes with Harrison’s defensive-minded philosophy and the tradition he needs the Mavericks to determine, per The Athletic. This may not be simple, nevertheless, as Davis is anticipated 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 staff far past this season. Dallas resumes play after the All-Star break on Friday in opposition to New Orleans.
