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[Saba Sports News] Everyone Had the Same Reaction to Mavericks Owner Patrick Dumont’s Comments on Luka Doncic
Dallas Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont’s comments about Luka Dončić’s trade had fans all saying the same thing.
In an interview with ‘The Dallas Morning News’ Brad Townsend, Dumont doubled down on the Mavs’ decision to move on from Doncic, implying that the star’s work ethic didn’t align with the team’s vision.
“In my mind, the way teams win is by focus, by having the right character, by having the right culture, and by having the right dedication to work as hard as possible to create a championship-winning outcome,” Dumont said. “And if you’re not doing that, you’re going to lose.”
He continued, “If you look at the greats in the league—the people you and I grew up with—[Michael] Jordan, [Larry] Bird, Kobe [Bryant], Shaq [O’Neal]—they worked really hard, every day, with a singular focus to win. And if you don’t have that, it doesn’t work. And if you don’t have that, you shouldn’t be part of the Dallas Mavericks.”
Dumont then sealed his point by saying, “If you want to take a vacation, don’t do it with us.”
The remark that really set fans off? Dumont citing Shaquille O’Neal as a model of great work ethic—despite Shaq being famously known for coasting through regular seasons and showing up to training camp out of shape. The irony wasn’t lost on NBA fans, who quickly called out the contradiction.