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[Saba Sports News] More details continue to emerge about the Dallas Mavericks’ rocky relationship with former franchise star Luka Doncic.
As the basketball world knows, the Mavericks traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers just days before the NBA trade deadline, a move reportedly pushed by GM Nico Harrison.
On Monday, The Athletic published a feature on Harrison’s rise to becoming Dallas’ top executive, which also included a surprising claim: the Mavericks may have exaggerated—or even fabricated—an injury to Doncic in November.
Following a 41-point win over the Pelicans on Nov. 19, Doncic was diagnosed with a “right wrist sprain,” forcing him to miss five games. However, The Athletic reports that this injury “was not entirely true.” Instead, the real reason for his absence was allegedly to give him time to “improve his conditioning.”
If true, this suggests Doncic’s fitness level was a major concern, despite him still averaging over 25 points per game at the time. Some NBA stars are known for playing their way into shape as the season progresses, and Doncic appears to fit that mold. But the Mavericks seemingly wanted more from their star player.
When Doncic returned in early December, he looked revitalized, scoring at least 30 points in three of his first four games—all Mavericks wins. However, just 10 games later, he suffered a significant calf strain that sidelined him for 22 more contests.
By the time he stepped back onto the court, he was no longer a Maverick.