Dallas Mavericks governor Mark Cuban attributed Luka Doncic's recent dominance to the 22-year-old superstar's response to criticism about his conditioning at the start of the season.
"I think he was a little polite," Cuban said Tuesday during an appearance at 1310 The Ticket in Dallas. "I guess he didn't like to be called out for his weight and other things, and it finally clicked that a level of discipline is necessary.
“All athletes of his level go through this at some stage, where things are easier and you are used to always being the best and you are used to always getting all the praise. That's when something doesn't go as expected. , it makes you reconsider."
Doncic admitted in early December that he rested "probably too much" in the weeks between Slovenia's Olympic run and reporting to Dallas for training camp, saying his conditioning needed to "get back on track". . Sources told ESPN that Doncic reported the camp weighing more than 260 pounds for the second year in a row.
According to sources, Doncic has since dropped more than 15 pounds to get closer to his rookie weight.
Not coincidentally, he has returned to All-NBA form after a relatively slow start to the season.
In his first 21 games of the season, Doncic averaged 25.6 points, 8 rebounds and assists with an 8.5 minus-5.5 net rating, a testament to his weak defensive performance. He then took a three-week rest period to recover from a right ankle sprain that he had aggravated several times and worked on his conditioning.
In the 23 games since the layoff, Doncic has averaged 29.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 9.4 assists with a plus-13 net rating, a testament to his drastic defensive improvement. A two-time first-team All-NBA selection, who has just played in his third All-Star Game, Doncic averaged 35.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 9.8 assists in 10 games since it was revealed that he was not eligible for an All-Star Game. Zero media votes were received. -Star starter.
Cuban said, "He knows what he needs to do, and in the end it turns out that if he's going to be the best — and I know he wants to be the best — there are a few things he needs to do." have to control." "Once he's in control of those things, he's 'Katie, bar the door.' He's just been unstoppable."