After missing the NBA playoffs entirely last season, following a trip to the Western Conference Finals the previous season, no one really knew what to expect from Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks during the 2023-24 campaign.
The addition of fellow superstar Kyrie Irving was thought to be a game-changer for the Mavericks during the 2022-23 season when they acquired him before the NBA trade deadline, but then the team flamed out quickly, leading many to believe the new dynamic duo wouldn’t work in Dallas.
Fortunately for the Mavericks, Doncic and Irving completely changed the narrative this past season and were able to pave their way back to the postseason, which was followed by an incredible playoff run resulting in an appearance in the NBA Finals to take on the Boston Celtics.
Even though the Mavericks ultimately fell in five games to a much better Celtics squad, Dallas has a bright future ahead, but Doncic had a tough decision to make after an exhausting 2023-24 campaign whether to suit up for Slovenia during the Olympics this summer.
Despite just finishing the longest season of his NBA career thus far, Doncic has decided to represent his country next month in Paris, France, according to Evan Sidery of Forbes.
A quick turnaround upcoming for the Mavericks’ superstar after their Finals run. pic.twitter.com/365MJkcoEs
Obviously, this is great news for the Slovenian national team as it dramatically improves their chances of contending with the Americans and other nations expected to be tough opponents.
However, the Mavericks might not be crazy about this idea, as it would put more wear and tear on Doncic’s body after such a long season, especially with the injuries he dealt with during the playoffs.