Luka Doncic received some revenge towards his previous Dallas Mavericks squad, the workforce that shockingly traded him earlier than the NBA deadline, by notching a triple-double within the Los Angeles Lakers’ 107-99 win on Tuesday evening.
Whereas Doncic was dissecting his former teammates on the courtroom, Lakers followers have been heard chanting, “Thanks, Nico!” to Mavericks GM Nico Harrison, who orchestrated the blockbuster commerce.Â
Nonetheless, the Mavericks are sticking by the commerce of the perennial All-Star guard, and The Athletic’s current report solely escalated the well being considerations that performed a significant factor in shifting him now.Â
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) throughout the second half towards the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Enviornment. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Photos)
The report said that “the individuals who witnessed Doncic’s final days in Dallas don’t paint a flattering portrait of the 25-year-old’s professionalism.” Doncic’s conditioning stage was reportedly a frustration for the group, and so they didn’t like his “style for beer and hookah.”
The Mavericks reportedly predicted Doncic’s “basketball demise” on account of his well being, and Harrison made a transfer no one noticed coming. Lakers star middle Anthony Davis was the spotlight of Los Angeles’ commerce package deal to land Doncic.Â
LUKA DONCIC’S TRIPLE-DOUBLE LEADS LAKERS PAST MAVS 107-99 IN POST-TRADE REVENGE GAME
This report maybe introduced extra readability to a viral clip that went down after the Mavericks received the Western Convention Finals this previous season, the place Doncic’s beer was taken out of his hand by Mavericks VP Michael Finley seemingly with out an evidence.Â
Within the clip, Doncic appears perplexed that occurred, and in the end shrugs it off.Â
Doncic’s father, Sasa, was standing subsequent to his son when that interplay went down, and he blasted the Mavericks following the commerce and the preliminary stories that Luka’s well being performed a consider it.Â
Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic, proper, and normal manger Rob Pelinka area questions throughout an introductory NBA basketball press convention Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in El Segundo, Calif. (AP Picture/Jae C. Hong)
Sasa known as the scenario “very unfair” whereas making an look with Enviornment Sport Slovenija.Â
“It wasn’t even an issue final yr since, I’m saying once more, one particular person mentioned he’s not match sufficient,” Sasa defined in regards to the conditioning considerations. “That he performed, I don’t know, 100 video games, virtually 40 minutes with two or three gamers continually on him. That he was overwhelmed, and also you say such issues about him. I really feel that that is very unfair from sure people. You traded him.Stand by your actions, however don’t search for excuses or alibis. That’s it.”
Doncic has been nursing a calf pressure for a lot of the 2024-25 season with the Mavericks, however since getting again on the ground for the Lakers, the workforce is 4-2.Â
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) speaks to the media after the sport towards the Dallas Mavericks reacts at Crypto.com Enviornment. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Photos)
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Doncic is averaging 19.0 factors, 9 rebounds and 7 assists by way of 5 video games, although he’s capturing beneath his normal environment friendly price at 38.1% up to now.Â
At 35-21, the Lakers are fourth within the Western Convention standings.
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