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A popular mirage still lives on with the Dallas Mavericks. After winning the WCF Finals, Luka Doncic relished in a beer. He did the same after erupting for 73 points, stating it’s a need for “recovery”. No one thought that would spark concerns around fitness and an eventual blockbuster trade. But Doncic took that to heart. The Slovenian has completely changed his habits. After another spectacular performance, this time against the Hornets, Luka Doncic was arguably exhausted. His dunk caught eyeballs, and a reporter casually asked whether the five-time All-NBA selection still indulges in a beer after a tough night. Doncic was clear. “No,” he told the reporter. So there isn’t going to be an incident like Michael Finley snatching a beer away from the 26-year-old. But it’s ironic that it was that moment and the other concerns raised by Nico Harrison and the Mavericks that prompted such discipline. After reports emerged about the Mavs being concerned about his weight gain, Doncic had everything highlighted for the offseason. ADVERTISEMENT He went to Slovenia, disconnected from everything, including basketball. For the entire summer, his goal was to return to his best physical shape. The result was him shredding 31 pounds and building muscle. And now that he initiated the process, Luka Doncic isn’t willing to stop. “If I stop now it was all for nothing,” he told Men’s Health. The Lakers are benefitting from the impact of his dramatic mindset switch. The Lakers are 8-3 through 11 games, and Doncic is averaging close to a 37 points triple-double. He’s more explosive, and with the added muscle, still able to shake off defenders. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Mavericks are craving for a floor general. ADVERTISEMENT Their offense reeks from the lack of Doncic’s wizardry, and the heat is piling on to one man – Nico Harrison. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports ADVERTISEMENT How the Dallas Mavericks wish they still had Luka Doncic If you think about it, the Mavericks’ situation is similar to the Lakers. They have Kyrie Irving out, while the Lakers are still without LeBron James. Additionally, they have other short-term injuries preventing the team from really dialing in to this season. However, even with such glaring absences, they didn’t have to worry when Luka Doncic was with them. He played through injuries and still managed to have a winning impact. That was through pure instinct. The Mavs, although blessed with Cooper Flagg, are now without a player who could help manage such dreadful times. The Mavericks average just 107.2 points, ranking last in the league. Even the Indiana Pacers, who are without Tyrese Haliburton and several others, have managed to produce a greater output. Furthermore, even after bringing D’Angelo Russell to the starting lineup, not much has changed. ADVERTISEMENT The Mavericks have lost 8 of their 11 games, and four of their last five. Likewise, the owner, Patrick Dumont, is growing restless. Reports are emerging about the Mavs looking into parting ways with Nico Harrison. Marc Stein reported, “that the front office executive who conceived and pushed for the widely criticized Doncic deal can no longer be the one trying to pilot the organization past it,”. Because right now, life would have been much different if the Mavericks still had Luka Doncic. Be it an occasional beer or not, he swings the pendulum unlike any other player in the league right now. And clearly, the loss of a generational talent is stinging the Mavericks. They can still recover. With a fully healthy roster, they do have the personnel to do better than last season. However, with Luka Doncic on your team, winning is always possible, no matter the circumstances. And each time he does that for the Lakers, it’s a big slap in the face of the Mavericks.
