Dallas Mavericks minority proprietor Mark Cuban advised the group’s massive concern about Luka Doncic was rooted in a misunderstanding.
In an appearance on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” Sunday, Cuban addressed the reported issues the Mavericks had over Doncic’s well being and conditioning. Cuban advised that the Mavericks failed to grasp the cultural variations that include Doncic’s Balkan background, and that Doncic was not missing in depth throughout video games.
“All people noticed him. It wasn’t like he was ripped and had a six-pack,” Cuban stated of Doncic. “The most important mistake was in attempting to grasp Luka is he’s from the Balkans. He’s Slovenian. You take a look at (Nikola) Jokic, who’s Serbian, and also you take a look at Serbian gamers generally, it’s only a totally different mindset. They take a look at the sport in a different way. They take a look at life in a different way. The blokes that I’ve gotten to know from that area of the world are totally different. I feel that was what was not thought-about as absolutely because it ought to have been.
“(Doncic) is at all times actually intense on the court docket. You see his response to the referees. You see his response to anyone. Joker won’t be as purely emotional…(however) the man is intense. However when the sport is over and he goes again house, he’s extra inquisitive about harness racing. …They return and so they dwell their lives. It’s simply totally different. You’ve acquired to simply accept these variations in gamers from that a part of the world, and I feel that was a part of our mistake.”
The Mavericks had issues about Doncic’s harm historical past and off-court habits, and felt that it would lead to “catastrophe” in a while. A few of this will have been right down to a perceived lackadaisical angle towards the sport and towards coaching. Cuban sees it in a different way, and factors to Jokic’s relaxed off-court demeanor as proof that it’s doable to succeed even whereas being very laid-back whereas away from the sport.
Doncic does seem to hold himself to high standards. The Mavericks merely didn’t see his angle like Cuban does. Time will inform which ones is right of their evaluation.
