The Dallas Mavericks’ season concluded precisely one week ago with a loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals. Consequently, Nico Harrison’s response is now the subject of speculation.
In the Finals, Dallas was hindered by the absence of a third scorer, and the Mavs must identify a player who can alleviate the burden on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving when necessary. Boston’s victory was significantly influenced by the fact that no other team made a significant contribution to the Finals.
Despite the fact that his team lost in five games, Doncic was exceptional during the Finals. However, it appears that he may be on the brink of making a decision that could cause Mavs fans to become frustrated.
All indications indicate that Luka Doncic will represent Slovenia in the pre-Olympic qualifiers.
Doncic has enrolled in the Slovenian National Team in anticipation of the pre-Olympic qualifiers. Despite the fact that the Slovenian team’s medical staff will evaluate his knee, all indications indicate that he will participate in the pre-Olympic qualifiers.
In order to secure a berth in the Olympics, Slovenia would have to prevail in the pre-Olympic qualifier tournament in Greece. Despite Dallas’ anticipation that Doncic would represent Slovenia this summer, this decision has caused some Mavs fans to become agitated.
Doncic’s desire to represent his country, which gives him immense joy, is entirely understandable; however, the possibility of injury is a terrifying prospect. Doncic was plagued by injuries throughout the playoffs, including a thoracic contusion and a knee sprain that necessitated pain-killing injections. He was unable to recover for an extended period before joining the Slovenian National Team for practice.
If it had been the regular season, Doncic would have been sidelined for several weeks as a result of his injuries, according to a report from the semifinals. Doncic has gotten less than a week of rest before returning to the floor, and him remaining healthy throughout the pre-Olympic qualifiers and the Olympics (if Slovenia makes it) will be crucial.
Last summer, Doncic’s thigh injury from the previous summer was giving him problems during the FIBA World Cup, and if Doncic was as injured as reported during the playoffs, the pre-Olympic qualifiers will be risky for Doncic considering he was seemingly always reaggravating his various injuries during the playoffs.
Anyone who knows Doncic knew that he’d likely be suiting up for Slovenia, but this decision is a risk that many Mavs fans preferred not to see. Doncic appeared to be walking gingerly when he first arrived, and only time tell how much better his knee injury is doing.
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