Superstar Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks has wrapped up his finest season to date, winning MVP despite being denied and leading the Mavs to their first NBA Finals since 2011. This summer, he could improve even more.
If Doncic puts in the same amount of effort as he did the previous summer, we might witness a similar developmental trajectory for him. Last summer, we witnessed Doncic take his conditioning more seriously than he has ever done and make significant progress as a shooter off the catch.
In addition, Doncic’s 2024 NBA Playoffs were a masterclass, despite his several injuries. Doncic battled with a thoracic contusion and ankle tightness for the duration of the playoffs, and by the end he was in need of injections to relieve his suffering.
The Dallas Mavericks anticipate Luka Doncic competing in the Olympics.
Given that Dallas’ offseason is considerably shorter this year owing to their deep playoff run, Doncic’s top focus this summer should be getting healthy and ready for next season. However, that may be more difficult given a decision that Doncic will probably have to make.
The Mavs general manager stated during a press conference on Friday that he anticipates Doncic will compete for Slovenia in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
When it comes to Doncic representing Slovenia, Harrison remarked, “It’s probably one of his biggest joys.” “He will probably play for them as long as he can walk. That is what I anticipate.”
Since Doncic stated earlier this month that he would play if his knee is alright, his decision to represent Slovenia shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. However, it may be more dangerous than most people think for him to compete in the Olympics.
Although Doncic is known for persevering through injuries, it is difficult to play at the Olympics after suffering from several injuries for almost two months. Should he re-injure his knee or sustain another nasty injury, the Mavs would find themselves in a difficult situation heading into the upcoming season.
It would be very difficult for the Mavs to compete in a loaded Western Conference without Doncic, who is the team’s heart and soul.
Doncic’s playing for Slovenia is undoubtedly a top goal; at the FIBA World Cup last summer, he found himself in a terrifying predicament. Throughout the second half of the NBA 2022–23 season, Doncic was dealing with a thigh ailment, and these issues continued into the FIBA World Cup.
During the World Cup, Doncic was experiencing pain in his thigh, and he had less than two weeks to get ready for the Mavs training camp.
Doncic (if he competes for Slovenia) would have little over a month between the Olympics and training camp if Slovenia wins the pre-Olympic qualifiers and advances to the Olympics. Even though one month might seem long, it would go relatively quickly if Doncic was recovering from an Olympic injury.
Doncic enjoys representing Slovenia, but ultimately, he is taking a chance with this choice. The Mavs front management made an intriguing choice in asking him to sit out, considering it would probably just aggravate Doncic.
Harrison’s comments suggest that the Mavs don’t appear to mind Doncic representing his country, but if he were to sustain an injury during the Olympics or if he didn’t fully recover from his injuries from the previous campaign, things may get really interesting come playoff time.
Keep checking back for all the latest during the offseason on Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.
Leave a Reply