MY ACCOUNT
Luka Doncic admitted his conditioning and weight must improve amid criticism following the Dallas Mavericks’ fifth consecutive home defeat in the NBA.
Doncic was a topic of discussion during Tuesday’s 102-99 loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Brooklyn Nets, with Hall of Famer and analyst Reggie Miller critical of the two-time All-Star.
Miller said Doncic must “trim down” his physique, with reports claiming the 22-year-old reported to training camp overweight for the second consecutive year.
After posting 28 points, nine assists and six rebounds, Doncic addressed the criticism post-game.
“People are going to talk about it, yes or no,” said Doncic, who made just three of his 11 three-pointers in Dallas. “I know I’ve got to do better.”
Doncic, who led Slovenia to a fourth-placed finish at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, added: “I had a long summer.
“I had the Olympics, took three weeks off, and I relaxed a little bit. Maybe too much. I’ve just got to get back on track.”
Doncic is averaging 25.5 points, 8.5 assists and 7.9 rebounds per game this season.
His field-goal percentage (44.4) is his lowest since his rookie season in 2018-19 (42.7), while Doncic’s percentage from three-point range (32.5) was only lower in 2019-20 (21.6).
Doncic has also been dealing with an ankle injury as the Mavericks (11-12) sit seventh in the Western Conference.
“It’s still painful, but I try to play and try to practice,” Doncic said of the ankle. “But it’s still painful.”
