Five minutes, including shower. Already deprived of Kyrie Irving, absent for this meeting due to groin pain, Real Madrid fans did not benefit much from Luka Doncic, former idol of the club, since the latter only played five few minutes before joining the bench.
The Dallas star was hampered by a left calf injury and the decision was made to only give him a few moments on the floor in Madrid, still enough time to score 9 points.
“I’ve been waiting for this match all summer. Except for the fact that I couldn’t play longer, it was very special. The whole day was very special”delivers Luka Doncic to Sports Illustrated.
The Slovenian reassured by declaring that his injury was not ” severe “, but it’s not innocent either. Already because his left calf caused him to miss several playoff matches in 2022. Then because Luka Doncic suffered a glitch in his left thigh during the 2022/23 regular season, then at the World Cup.
A mess of sores for several months
Even if there is ” nothing serious “, the Mavericks All-Star has never really been at peace with his body for several months. Either he is out or he is playing diminished, like with Slovenia this summer.
The long trips, to Abu Dhabi and Madrid for Dallas, during the preseason are never good news physically but they sometimes help for the cohesion of the group. Except that on this point, Jason Kidd cannot be satisfied: he was not able to work with the Irving – Doncic duo, who nevertheless need to work together, the first having played 14 minutes and the second 22 in three matches…
Before this meeting against Real Madrid, which Dallas lost (127-123), Luka Doncic announced that he hoped to return to Madrid, in particular to play at Santiago Bernabeu, Real’s football stadium. There is no doubt that after this return spoiled by his injury, he wants even more to have a second meeting with his former team.
| Luka Doncic | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | DAL | 72 | 32 | 42.7 | 32.7 | 71.3 | 1.2 | 6.6 | 7.8 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 21.2 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 61 | 34 | 46.3 | 31.6 | 75.8 | 1.3 | 8.1 | 9.4 | 8.8 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 0.2 | 28.8 |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 66 | 34 | 47.9 | 35.0 | 73.0 | 0.8 | 7.2 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 0.6 | 27.7 |
| 2021-22 | DAL | 65 | 35 | 45.7 | 35.3 | 74.4 | 0.9 | 8.3 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 4.5 | 0.6 | 28.4 |
| 2022-23 | DAL | 66 | 36 | 49.6 | 34.2 | 74.2 | 0.8 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 0.5 | 32.4 |
| Total | 330 | 34 | 46.6 | 33.8 | 73.9 | 1.0 | 7.6 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 4.0 | 0.4 | 27.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
