The Dallas Mavericks are in the midst of a disappointing season. Although the team is 32-26 and seventh in the West, many expected more from them after the way they challenged the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round last year.
Part of the problem was Luka Doncic coming into the season out of the shape. Part of it was Kristaps Porzingis not being able to recapture his bubble magic.
And part of it, apparently, was Doncic and Porzingis not being particularly fond of each other.
Rumors have persisted for months now that there was some sort of issue between the pair.
This week, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban essentially came out and confirmed it.
“On the court they are fine,” Cuban said during an interview with 105.3 The Fan.
“That’s not to say there aren’t dust-ups, because there are. I’d compare it to Jet and Dirk.
“(Nowitzki and Terry) weren’t best friends at the beginning, but they grew to like each other and grew to be great friends and that’s just part of the process when you’ve got young kids who are growing up. It took forever before Dirk and Jet did anything off the court together. A long time.”
In Cuban’s eyes, his two young stars are simply “different people.”
“KP and Luka get along fine,” he said. “It’s just that they’re different people. They like to do different things.”
Doncic has been frustrated a lot this season, and Cuban’s most recent comments shine a light on one of the reasons why.
It will be interesting to see how the Mavericks proceed from here.
The photos speak for themselves. https://t.co/Z5kPxoPGPj
— Game 7 (@game7__) April 23, 2021
On one hand, they have one of the best young players of the generation on the roster. On the other – he could easily leave if things don’t turn out right in Dallas.
Buckle up. It’s going to be a fascinating few years to be a Mavericks fan.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
