LUKA vs. LUKA
THE MAVERICKS PHENOM TAKES ON THE MVP OUTLOOK, ‘TOUGHER’ WEST PLAYOFF PICTURE AND YEAR 2 WITH COACH JASON KIDD
“Winning. I didn’t have much time to do individual work. I was practicing with the team, and that’s it. Winning.”
— On his offseason point of emphasis
“As a team? We have chemistry. It’s a lot of people that were here last year. We have some new pieces, but the chemistry is the same. It’s good.”
— On how the team is coming together
“There’s a lot of teams that are going to be really good, and it’s going to be tough. Too many good players — it’s going to be tough. You have to go 100% for every game.”
— On the Western Conference
At the Mavericks’ practice last week, Luka Doncic sported a pair of royal blue Luka 1s from his custom Jordan Brand line, hardly missed from deep during the Mavericks’ halfhour of 3-point shooting contests, and then sat down for his first interview with reporters since the team’s preseason media day Sept. 26. Another early afternoon in the preseason life of Dallas’ Slovenian superstar.
About a week before the Mavericks open the season Oct. 19 in Phoenix, Doncic discussed his offensive decision-making during isolation scoring scenarios, his expectations for the Mavericks in Year 2 of Jason Kidd’s coaching tenure and his thoughts about the race for league MVP and Western Conference playoff supremacy.
Below are Doncic’s answers Tuesday, lightly edited for clarity.
When you’re in isolation, how do you decide if you’re getting into your stepback or putting it on the floor?
Doncic: I don’t know. It depends on the game, you know. It’s never the same decision. I really don’t know the answer to that question. It depends on the game.
Does it depend on if the stepback is falling or who’s guarding you? What are the factors?
Doncic: It’s a lot of factors. You’ve got to look at who’s guarding you, if the shot’s going in or not. There’s a lot to think about and then decide.
You added your midrange one-legger like Dirk (Nowitzki) last season -- what does that do for your game as far as the iso plays go?
Doncic: Just adds another shot that is tough to guard. It’s really tough. It’s fadeaway. Dirk always did it. It’s a fadeaway, so it’s tough to block, to defend. It just adds another shot to my isolation.
Does Dirk ever try to get you to go one-on-one to see who’s better? Doncic: No. Not yet. It’s probably him.
How much different has this training camp been in Jason Kidd’s second year?
Doncic: It’s the same. I think we’re doing a great job. I think we’re doing a better job this year. We’ve been together for one year. We know what he wants from us. I think it’s a lot easier for us and for them this year, and I think it’s getting better.
Will you all be a more defensive-minded team this year than last year?
Doncic: Yeah. I mean, if you want to win a championship, you’ve got to be a defensive team, so it’s good.
How are you feeling fatigue-wise now that you’re about three weeks removed from EuroBasket?
Doncic: I’m good. I had about a week off after the EuroBasket, but I’m good. I was sleeping a lot, [rejuvenated], so I’m good to go.
Was it tough to stay patient as you eased back into the NBA grind?
Doncic: I mean, I did everything. Just not the first day, and I didn’t play in Tulsa, but other than that I did everything.
How important is chemistry with the team bringing back the core of last year’s team minus Jalen Brunson?
Doncic: As a team? We have chemistry. It’s a lot of people that were here last year. We have some new pieces, but the chemistry is the same. It’s good.
What do you think about being in the MVP conversation again?
Doncic: It’s good. Not everybody can say they were MVPs in the league and in basketball, but you’ve got to get to there. You can’t have your name mentioned. You’ve got to get to there.
Superstars usually add something to their game in the offseasons -- what was your point of emphasis this summer?
Doncic: Winning. I didn’t have much time to do individual work. I was practicing with the team, and that’s it. Winning.
Do you feel there will be a big drop off from losing Brunson? Doncic:
It’s always the same. I got like 340 questions about Brunson. We can’t replace him. He’s JB. You can see him how much he gave us. He gave us a lot. Off the court, on the court, he was a great guy, a great teammate. But you know, we have new teammates. You’ve got to focus on what we have, not what we don’t have, and we’ve just got to focus on our team here.
What do JaVale McGee and Christian Wood add? Doncic:
A lot of size, you know. C can do a lot. He can put the ball on the floor, he can fade, he can block shots. JaVale is a big guy inside. He can block shots. He can impact the defense very much, do lobs and go out there and get us extra possessions.
If Spencer Dinwiddie is not playing next to you, do you change the way you play because you don’t have a second ball-handler?
Doncic: No, I play the same way, always. Who’s going to start, who’s going to [be off the] bench, that’s a question for Coach, so you’ve got to talk to him.”
There’s a rumor out there that you got quicker this summer -- is that fact or fiction? Doncic:
It’s fact, for sure. [smiling] Ask the guys who have been in practice.
Is the Western Conference outlook this year the toughest since you’ve been in the league? Doncic:
I mean, I don’t know if it’s toughest, but it’s tougher than last season for sure. Yeah, I think Clippers are going to be really good. There’s a lot of teams that are going to be really good, and it’s going to be tough. Too many good players — it’s going to be tough. You have to go 100% for every game.