Luka Dončić had good news on Wednesday about what he and the Mavericks expect to be a much smoother operation in the backcourt this season with Kyrie Irving.
The report about his left thigh injury wasn’t quite as optimistic, but it wasn’t all bad, either.
Dončić and the Mavericks went through their first training-camp practices on Wednesday (two-a-days go through Thursday). And the dominant themes were building better chemistry with Irving as they enter their first full season together in the backcourt.
“Better, for sure,” Dončić said. “He came in the middle of the season last year and we went straight to playing games. It takes time to build chemistry, especially on the court. We’ll have the whole training camp and preseason, so I think it’s going to be way better.”
What has to improve specifically?
“Just playing off each other,” he said. “We’re the two leaders of this team.”
It wasn’t like the pairing was bad after the February trade that brought Irving to the Mavericks. The numbers were all there.
But the victories were not.
Missing the playoffs after a three-year run that included a visit to the Western Conference finals in 2022 didn’t sit well with Luka or Kyrie.
The overall chemistry – plus a fatal lack of defense and injuries that cost both players time, including Luka’s thigh – doomed the season.
But that was then. This is now and the Mavericks have a lot of new faces and an attitude to match.
As for that thigh injury that hindered Luka during the FIBA World Cup last month, there are some tests still to be run. But it is improving and neither Dončić nor coach Jason Kidd seemed overly disturbed by the situation.
“It’s better,” Luka said. “We still have some appointments. So when we get that clear, we’ll let you know. So far, so good.”
Kidd said there won’t be a lot of concessions to Luka’s thigh in camp or the preseason, although the team is going to be smart about how to handle the situation.
“He’s probably not 100 percent,” Kidd said. “Anytime you play, it’s hard to be 100 percent. For the first day he looked great.
“The topic of keeping him stronger and getting him closer to 100 percent before the first game is the goal. He will participate in two-a-days. I know that’s rare in today’s NBA. But him and (Irving) will participate in two-a-days. We only have two of them, today and tomorrow.”
Dončić has been back in Dallas long enough to go through several pick-up games, often teaming with rookie center Dereck Lively II and/or rookie forward O-Max Prosper.
He had nothing but praise for them and newcomer Grant Williams.
“We got some good players,” Luka said. “Grant’s a great leader, too. He talks a lot, sometimes too much. But he’s a great guy and he’s going to help us a lot.”
And as for the rookies?
“We played two times in pick-up (games) and there was a great connection between me and Lively. I think the changes are good. If they (the rookies) work hard, they’re going to get minutes, for sure. Jason is going to give them an opportunity, for sure. It’s the first practice, but so far it’s been great.”
Other topics Luka touched on:
About the overseas preseason trip against his old team, Real Madrid: “I’ve been thinking about this game since they told me we’re going to play there. That game’s going to mean a lot to me. I was raised there. I speak their English, Spanish, everything. That’s my second home. I’m very excited about that.”
About team chemistry: “So far it’s been great chemistry. We got great guys. All the new guys that came in are great guys. I think it’s starting on a positive note.”
On the NBA’s new load-management rules: “I played every time I was healthy. I probably played sometimes when I wasn’t healthy, so it won’t be a problem with me.”
Twitter: @ESefko
Share and comment