Luka Doncic discusses the Mavs’ ascent and the Sacramento draft rejection.
Luka Doncic, one of the top guards in the league and one of the best European players in recent memory, was chosen third by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Despite making a significant individual effect as a player and sticking with the Mavericks, Doncic has yet to win an NBA championship in his six-year career.
But since Kyrie Irving joined the Mavericks last season and the American finally settled in, the Mavericks have been playing exceptionally well and are well ahead of schedule for the postseason.
Doncic discussed how the Mavericks developed during the season and how the Sacramento Kings passed on second pick Marvin Bagley III in an interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic.
The Slovenian guard commented, “They weren’t [upset] at the beginning,” regarding the actions of Sacramento supporters following the team’s decision not to choose him in 2018. “Not at first. They recently witnessed [what they were deprived of] afterwards,” he said. Doncic and Sacramento’s general manager, Vlade Divac, recently engaged in a heated argument about this exact subject.
Even though that incident generated news, the Mavericks’ recent success—winning seven straight games at a time when the postseason picture is being decided—may be more significant.
“Our defense is our main [development], and defense wins games,” Doncic said. Therefore, when they double-team us, Kyrie Irving and I can generate shots for anyone while we are out there on offense. He discussed the advantages of having two dominant guards on the team. “So we just play out of that.”
The guard clarified that, in contrast to previous seasons when it trailed the team’s attack, defense has been crucial for the Mavericks this year. Doncic claims that the Mavericks’ defense is stronger this year because of two things.
“They definitely altered the officiating. It’s undoubtedly more difficult. The Slovenian international was the first to point out that the NBA refereeing has changed, making defenses more evident. “They let much more contact go, but I like it because we can play defense,” the international player said.
“P.J. Washington and Gaff [Daniel Gafford], the two guys we acquired at the trade deadline, they really help us,” Doncic said of his new colleagues. “They never voice grievances. They are our two best defensive players, in my opinion, and they just play hard every play.”
D. Jones [Derrick Jones] is one of us, and we all play together. The fact that we have a five-man defense is crucial. The guard went on, “The whole team is special, man,” referring to the squad’s already apparent camaraderie, especially the one that emerged after the trade deadline passed.
Luka Doncic’s play has been one of the key factors in the Mavs’ successful season. The guard is averaging a nearly triple-double of 34 points [league-high], 9.1 rebounds, and 9.8 assists [league-third] per game in what is undoubtedly his best NBA season.
