The Dallas Mavericks are fortunate to have one of the greatest players in the world leading their squad. After the Mavs booked a trip to the 2024 Finals and aced the offseason, they look ready to continue contending with Luka Doncic leading the way.
However, there was a rumor of minor turmoil within the team when Howard Beck of The Ringer discussed the issue of Doncic’s ball dominance. Per Beck, an anonymous Mavs assistant coach remarked how some players appear to heave a “sigh of relief” when the Slovenian superstar checks out of games because they get a “little more freedom” to play and touch the ball.
Former Mavs leader and current free agent forward Markieff Morris snapped back at the rumor, clearing it up that the team was focused on winning the title. Morris’s comment shows how Doncic’s teammates actually feel about him, and he clearly isn’t a bad teammate by any means.
It’s understandable, though, for Doncic to have the ball in his hand most of the time whenever he is on the floor. His squad’s best chances of scoring involve him directing plays or attacking the defense. In fact, the five-time All-Star’s on/off difference of +11.9 shows that Dallas is much better when he’s on the court than off it.
Goran Dragic said it best in an appearance on Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s podcast (at 11:25) “Thanalysis” when he asserted that “it’s easy” playing with his fellow Slovenian.
It’s worth noting that Dragic got to see Doncic grow up. Their friendship started to blossom when “Luka Magic” was still a teenager and they represented Slovenia in international competition. The retired point guard even shared that they were roommates and took Doncic under his wing.
“The Dragon” also told Antetokounmpo an interesting anecdote about Doncic as a kid, recalling watching him mop the floor and do other chores during games or practice sessions. That just goes to show how the 25-year-old phenom was dedicated to the sport at such a young age.
Many years later, Doncic has proven to be a generational talent who can make life easier for his teammates because of his unparalleled skills and playmaking. Equally important is the development of his leadership, which manifested even more strongly as Dallas made a run to its first Finals appearance since 2011.
No one has spoken out against Doncic or called him a bad teammate in his entire career, and Dragic helped silence this narrative by speaking the truth about what Doncic is actually like.
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