The kids are all right. That, for the record, is putting it mildly. The NBA's kiddies are better than all right. They're spectacular. The league's under-25...
Mavericks' Luka Doncic: It Would Be 'Enormous Accomplishment' to Win NBA MVP Award
Sep 22, 2022
BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 14: Luka Doncic celebrates during the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 quarterfinal match between Slovenia v Poland at EuroBasket Arena Berlin on September 14, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Entering his fifth NBA season, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is already a perennial contender for league MVP, and he's expected to once again be in that conversation.
While speaking to Malika Andrews on Thursday's episode of NBA Today, Doncic was asked how important it is to him to win an MVP award.
"If I could be named MVP, it would be an enormous accomplishment, I would be so happy," Doncic said (2:52 mark). "But, you never know. I hope I'm in that conversation."
Doncic is coming off a strong showing in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, but Slovenia was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Poland in a surprising upset. He averaged 26.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.6 assists in seven games during the tournament, including a 47-point outburst that is the second-highest total in the history of European championships.
While individual success is achievable, Doncic also told Andrews that he has big expectations for the Mavs as a team.
"My expectation is to make it to the [NBA] Finals, first of all," he said. "I know it's gonna be really, really hard, but we gotta believe, everybody's gotta believe it. And if the whole team believes, then it can probably happen, but it's gonna be really hard."
The 23-year-old is the most important player on the Mavericks. He led the team with averages of 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.2 steals last season, but he was also hobbled with injuries throughout the year. Doncic missed 17 games in the regular season and three more in the playoffs, and the team went 10-10 in his absence.
Dallas had a 52-30 record and made a surprising run to the Western Conference Finals last season, but the team is set to look different this year. The Mavs lost second-leading scorer Jalen Brunson after he signed with the New York Knicks as a free agent. They acquired promising 26-year-old power forward Christian Wood from the Houston Rockets, but it remains to be seen how he will mesh with a ball-dominant guard like Doncic.
The Mavericks are set to begin their season against the Phoenix Suns, who they defeated in seven games in the conference finals, on Oct. 19.
Football’s back, the leaves are changing, summer blockbuster season is over and the 2022-23 NBA campaign starts in just over a month. Yes, you read that right....
Luka Doncic Received Injection for Injury During Slovenia's EuroBasket Exit to Poland
Sep 14, 2022
BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 14: Luka Doncic looks on during the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 quarterfinal match between Slovenia v Poland at EuroBasket Arena Berlin on September 14, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic has been starring for Slovenia in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, but he didn't have his best showing on Wednesday as the team was eliminated by Poland in the quarterfinals.
After the game, Doncic revealed to reporters that he received an injection in the third quarter after being knocked to the floor earlier in the game.
Doncic, who said he has "been dealing with a lot" throughout EuroBasket, was limited to 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting in the 90-87 loss. He added 11 rebounds and seven assists but also committed six turnovers.
Slovenia, which was the tournament's defending champion, fought back from a 23-point deficit but couldn't complete the comeback as Poland advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 1971. Doncic was particularly unhappy with his individual performance.
"Today I played terrible," he said. "I let my team down, I let the whole country who was supporting us down, and that’s on me."
Entering Wednesday's game, the 23-year-old had scored over 35 points in each of the previous three contests. He came close to setting a new EuroBasket record with 47 points in a group phase win over France, the second-highest total in the history of European championships. Doncic ends the tournament with averages of 26.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.6 assists.
Any injury to Doncic is concerning for the Mavericks. Last season, he missed 17 games in the regular season and three more in the playoffs. The team went 10-10 in his absence, but this year's squad is less equipped to deal with him being sidelined for a prolonged amount of time.
Dallas lost point guard Jalen Brunson, its second-leading scorer last year, in free agency after he signed a four-year deal with the New York Knicks. In 2022-23, Doncic will be relied on even more than he already has been throughout his young career.
The Mavericks open their season against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Goran Dragic Says Luka Doncic Is the Best Player in the World, Could Become Best Ever
Sep 13, 2022
BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 10: Luka Doncic, Goran Dragic of Slovenia during the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 round of 16 match between Slovenia and Belgium at EuroBasket Arena Berlin on September 10, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Pedja Milosavljevic/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Chicago Bulls guard Goran Dragić said
the Dallas Mavericks' Luka Dončić, his teammate on the Slovenian
national team at EuroBasket 2022, is the "best player in the
world."
Dragić explained Monday he believes
Dončić could eventually put himself in the conversation as the
greatest basketball player of all-time, per BasketNews:
He is only 23 years old, and he is
playing like a veteran. He could score even 40 points in every game.
He plays the game at his rhythm, he is very big, he can shoot, he can
pass, he can rebound. I don't know what else we can say about Luka,
he is like...an astronaut. I think he could be [the best player in
history]. He is still very young, but if he stays healthy and plays a
long more time, I think that by the end of his career he could be the
best ever.
The 36-year-old veteran added his only
regret is that he's not a little bit younger so he could play
alongside Dončić at the peak of his powers.
"I wish I was younger so I could
play more time with him. We've only played one EuroBasket together,
this is the second one. For me, it's different. I am 36, Luka is in
his prime, but I am enjoying every moment," Dragić said.
Dončić is coming off a terrific
2021-22 season with the Mavericks. He averaged 28.4 points, 9.1
rebounds, 8.7 assists, 3.1 threes and 1.2 steals across 65
appearances to finish fifth in NBA MVP voting.
The 23-year-old superstar has continued
to shine at EuroBasket, putting up 28 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.5
assists per game while helping leading Slovenia to the quarterfinals.
Dončić, Dragić and Co. will face off
with Poland in the quarters on Wednesday. A win would set up a
semifinal showdown with either France or Italy.
As for Dončić's journey toward the
GOAT conversation, he's built an impressive resume with the 2019 NBA
Rookie of the Year Award and three All-Star selections among his
early accolades, not to mention three championships while playing for
Real Madrid in Spain.
He'll need to win some NBA MVPs and titles
before truly entering the discussion about the greatest player in
basketball history, though.
Luka Doncic Drops 47 as Slovenia Outlasts Rudy Gobert, France at EuroBasket 2022
Sep 7, 2022
COLOGNE, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 07: Luka Doncic of Slovenia reacts during the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 group B match between France and Slovenia at Lanxess Arena on September 07, 2022 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images)
Luka Doncic had a pretty good day at the office.
The Slovenian superstar dropped 47 points on France in EuroBasket action on Wednesday, leading his country to a crucial 88-82 win that clinched the top spot in Group B.
Doncic was incredibly efficient in the win, shooting 15-of-23 from the field and 6-of-11 from three while adding seven rebounds and five assists. His only blemish was four turnovers, though harping on that would be the definition of nitpicking after his impressive offensive display.
His 47 points were the second-most in the history of EuroBasket, trailing only Eddy Terrace's incredible 63 points for Germany in 1957, per FIBA. He surpassed Greece's Niko Galis, who put up 46 points in a game in 1983.
For context, EuroBasket games are 40 minutes long, compared to the NBA's 48 minutes. Doncic played just shy of 39 minutes Wednesday.
Suffice to say, the Dallas Mavericks superstar was feeling the love after his show-stopping effort:
47pts just like that against France huh! With the dub too.. Luka went crazy fr🤦🏾♂️👏🏾
"He is our Wonder Boy and I am happy that he is Slovenian," Zoran Dragic told reporters after the win, neatly summing up Doncic's importance to his country.
"We think this is normal," Slovenian head coach Aleksander Sekulic added of Doncic's outburst. "That is not normal."
While the loss wasn't ideal for France, it is still headed to the Round of 16, clinching a spot with eight points in group play. A German win against Hungary would drop Rudy Gobert and Co. to third in Group B, however, potentially setting up a tough knockout phase matchup with Furkan Korkmaz, Cedi Osman, Alperen Sengun and Turkey.
Slovenia awaits its first opponent, with the possibility of facing Montenegro, Belgium or Georgia depending on the result of Montenegro vs. Georgia on Wednesday.
Mavericks 2022-23 Schedule: Top Games, Championship Odds and Record Predictions
Aug 17, 2022
DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 22: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors in Game Three of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals at American Airlines Center on May 22, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
We're about to find out how valuable Jalen Brunson really is.
The 25-year-old left a significant void in the Dallas Mavericks' backcourt when he signed with the New York Knicks. He thrived in his first full season as a regular starter and hit a new level when the playoffs arrived.
Losing Brunson was bad enough for the Mavs. Compounding the situation is that they lacked the salary-cap space to sign a replacement and already used a first-round pick and salary filler to land Christian Wood.
As a result, Dallas might have to lean even more on Luka Doncic, who's already on pace through his first four years to have the highest usage rate (35.1 percent) in NBA history, per Basketball Reference.
Replicating a fourth-place finish in 2021-22 won't be easy for head coach Jason Kidd.
The Minnesota Timberwolves made the single most aggressive move of the offseason when they acquired Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz.
Did the Timberwolves give up too much for the three-time All-Star? Probably. But that's the tax teams in smaller markets like Minnesota have to pay in order to get players with the Frenchman's resume.
You can't blame a franchise with two playoff appearances since 2004 for pushing in all of its chips, either, when it looks to have a roster that can be a steady postseason contender.
At the least, Gobert should raise the Timberwolves' ceiling in the regular season. The Cleveland Cavaliers also showed with Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen that super-big lineups could be a way to counteract the current tactical trends in the NBA.
The Timberwolves figure to be stiff competition for Dallas in the battle to secure a top-four seed.
The same can be said of the Denver Nuggets, which will have Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. back to support two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic.
You don't need to wade into the analytics discourse to convey the Serb's value to Denver. He averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.5 steals and shot 58.3 percent from the field.
The Nuggets were mostly a one-man show and managed to still win 48 games and claim the sixth seed in the West.
Murray is coming off a torn ACL, and Porter's back injury is even more concerning because of what it portends for his future. Maybe neither player is the same upon returning to the court. But getting 60 percent of Murray and Porter is more than zero percent, which is what they basically combined to deliver in 2021-22. (Porter was limited to nine appearances.)
There are plenty of reasons to question the Nuggets' championship credentials, but they aren't going anywhere as a top-half team in the West.
Season Forecast
Doncic had a bit of a reality check last year when he conceded in December his preseason conditioning probably wasn't where it needed to be. Players at his level simply can't afford to cut corners when it comes to off-court preparation.
Following an uneven start, the three-time All-Star hit his stride midway through 2021-22. Here are his stats through January and then from February on:
Still, it remains to be seen whether Doncic performing at an MVP-type level for a full season will be enough for the Mavericks in 2022-23. From top to bottom, their roster may not be much better than it was last year, while others in the West are potentially on the way up.
The New Orleans Pelicans should have a healthy Zion Williamson again. The Los Angeles Clippers are immediately back to being a title threat now that they can pair Kawhi Leonard alongside Paul George. And then there's the aforementioned Timberwolves and Nuggets.
All of those teams finished below Dallas in the standings.
Because Doncic is so good, you can't take another 50-win season off the table, but the odds of the Mavericks hitting that mark might be low.
Record Prediction: 47-35
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Report: Devin Booker, Suns Will Host Luka Doncic, Mavericks in Season Opener
Aug 16, 2022
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 23: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks controls the ball against Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game at PHX Arena on December 23, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 106-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
After their entertaining seven-game series in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns won't have to wait long to reignite their rivalry.
Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic reported Monday that the two teams will open their 2022-23 season with a matchup on Oct. 19.
The Mavericks surprisingly emerged victorious from their playoff series to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2011. The Suns entered last year's playoffs as the No. 1 seed after finishing with a league-best record of 64-18. Phoenix needed six games to get past the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, but the team looked to have returned to form when it opened its series against Dallas with back-to-back wins.
However, the Mavs upped their defensive intensity when they returned to their home floor to win the next two games. The Suns then cruised to a 30-point win in Game 5 to push the Mavericks to the brink of elimination, but things fell apart for Phoenix in the next two contests.
The Mavs took a 113-86 win at home in Game 6 before returning to Phoenix and shocking the masses with a 123-90 blowout victory in Game 7. Suns star shooting guard Devin Booker shot a combined 9-of-31 from the field over the final two games of the series. Conversely, Luka Doncic put the Mavs on his back with a combined 68 points in Games 6 and 7.
Phoenix will surely be seeking revenge after its disappointing playoff exit. The Suns maintained their entire core, with veteran point guard Chris Paul returning for another run and young center Deandre Ayton re-signing after testing restricted free agency.
Dallas notably lost second-leading scorer Jalen Brunson after he signed with the New York Knicks, but the team added size by trading for center Christian Wood and signing veteran big man JaVale McGee.
