Already disappointed at not having managed to directly qualify his country for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Luka Doncic ended the World Cup on a very bad note by reviving an injury suffered last March which had already caused a first alert in August. “I don’t know what to say, but it’s not okay. At the same time, I have to prepare for one last game and then for the entire NBA season”had released the leader before playing the classification match against Italy, causing concern in the ranks of the Mavs.
Fifteen days later, as Dallas training camp began on September 27, Jason Kidd spoke about the situation of his “franchise player”. He thinks that Luka Doncic will undoubtedly return to competition along the way during preparation.
“I think hopefully as we move forward, he’ll be able to go.” explained Jason Kidd in Marc Stein’s podcast. “I imagine that sometimes, in our careers, we are not at 100% but at 95 or 99%. The more matches you play, the longer your career… I think you can ask anyone: no one is really 100%.”
Load management this season?
If the Texan franchise will not take any risks this early in the season as long as Luka Doncic is not 100%, Jason Kidd also wanted to be optimistic about the regular season.
He hopes to be able to rest the Slovenian more, who still averaged more than 36 minutes played per match last season, his career best. The Texan coach will indeed be able to alternate with Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum or even Jaden Hardy to replace him at position 1.
“Given our roster, and given his depth, I hope we won’t have to play him 40 minutes or more per evening. I think Nico Harrison (the GM) did an incredible job this summer. I’m excited with Luka and Kyrie Irving, and to have Luka ready to go again and accomplish his goal: winning an NBA title.”.
| 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.
