Making his first comments since Sunday’s Game 7 loss to the Clippers, Mavericks star Luka Doncic discussed some of the pressing questions facing himself and the organization this summer.
The 22-year-old guard, who averaged 35 PPG, 10.3 APG and 7.9 RPG in his first round matchup with Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers, offered a strong, if playfully coy, hint about whether or not he plans on signing a supermax extension this summer. “I think you know the answer,” he said with a large smile, as tweeted by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
As relayed by ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Doncic is set to become the first rookie in league history to sign a rookie max extension worth over $200MM. The deal, should he sign it, would begin in 2022/23 and would be worth approximately $201.5MM over five years, based on current cap projections. Marc Stein of The New York Times confirms (via Twitter) that the Mavs plan to put that offer on the table once free agency begins in August.
Doncic will officially qualify for the supermax (30% of the cap instead of 25%) once he’s formally named to this year’s All-NBA team, since he made last year’s All-NBA squad as well. Players need to make the All-NBA team in the season before the extension takes effect or in two of the previous three seasons in order to be supermax-eligible.
Doncic also reaffirmed his commitment to his partnership with Kristaps Porzingis, despite whispers that the two aren’t exactly the closest of friends. “He’s a great player. I think we’ve got to use him more, and that’s it,” Doncic said of Porzingis (Twitter link via Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News).
The Latvian big man was brought in via trade in 2019 and subsequently signed to a max contract, but the last two seasons have been riddled with injuries and up-and-down play. He averaged 20 points and nearly nine rebounds per game, but his once-vaunted defense seemed to slip, resulting in a career-low blocks per game. In the playoffs this year, he averaged just 13 PPG and 5.4 RPG in 33 minutes a night.
Finally, Doncic confirmed that he will be joining the Slovenian national team soon to help lead them through the Olympic qualifying rounds. Though the team has never qualified for the Olympics before, Doncic was part of the group, along with Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic and former NBA forward Anthony Randolph, that won the 2017 EuroBasket championship. Doncic is hoping to carry that success to this year’s qualifiers, and to lead his team to the Tokyo Olympics.
“No vacation,” he said, as tweeted by Stein.
Doncic on track to being one of the GOATs. Give it a couple years and he will be as hated as LeBron and Kobe and other GOATs were by opposing fans.
Oh, you don’t need to wait, I already hate looking at his face.
He is ridiculously good though.
Not every great player is hated… Steph is a prime example
I know that when I think of great Slovenian basketball players the name Anthony Randolph just springs to mind.
The 2017 EuroBasket Championships had players from more than just Slovenia.
I think his point is that Randolph was playing for Slovenia, when he’s not (by any measure other than FIBA’s rules) Slovenian.
1/25th on his mother’s side.
lmao, I had to look this up because Wikipedia mentions that he is Slovenian but does not mention how. His parents are American, he was born in Germany due to being in a military family, and he grew up in Pasadena, California, so it didn’t make sense.
Apparently, the Slovenian team just asked him to play for them and offered him Slovenian citizenship and he accepted. Pretty funny.
Took some digging, but I was curious and found this…. @ eurohoops.net
Antonis Stroggylakis – What were your first thoughts when the Slovenia offer was given to you?
Rudolph – “My initial thought was no. When you think about playing for a country, you want to play for the country you’re from. It’s a country that you have a stake in. You want it to be something special. I met with [Slovenia Basketball Association secretary general and former NBA player] Rasho Nesterovic, Goran Dragic, Rade, [my Spanish agent Enrique Villalobos] here in Madrid in May. They told me their plan of being the missing gap to their team and if I came we would have a chance to win the medal. I talked it over with my team, and we decided it was the best thing to do in order to get exposure and develop as a basketball player.”
Good. Put any potential nonsense to bed before it gets started.
Only an idiot turns down 200M for his second contract.
Porzingis for Miles Turner & Lamb…
Luka deserves the extension.
Why in the world would Indy want Porzingis to play alongside Sabonis? That is a such a bad fit.
Not as good either… even with Zinger healthy.
Man, this guys so good and still really young. Crazy. I can’t help but think either Porzingis isn’t the same after that injury or he just isn’t a good fit for this team. I don’t know which one it is. Have a hard time believing someone with that talent and who was taking the league by storm at one point just had fallen off a cliff production wise. Maybe, maybe what we see is what he is gonna be from now on but I personally think it’s the fit. I think if the Mavs traded him and got Luka another player they could get over the hump and be serious contenders, they are so close.
The Mavs need a new coach. If you’re getting out rebounded with 2 7 footers on the court and they’re scoring on you inside there’s a problem, not to mention KP playing like he’s a foot shorter.It just seemed like the Clippers had a better plan in Game 7 fourth quarter and Carlisle had none.
I saw something funny about Porzingas saying that he plays like he’s 5’27”.
Woo, what a tough Job the Mavs have this offseason-
Whatever direction they go Id just consult Luka first at least giving him the full landscape and hear his input
If they dip their toes only halfway in the water and resign guys like Hardaway + it really hurts the prospects for a star later with Luka.
If they don’t, its 1 and done again ; & then there’s the KP Problem, and it is no doubt a problem for the org today
I think if it were me, Id take the squelch the Earth approach to 22, offload KP, save the cap and take my chances on a star 23 ….*With Lukas blessing ofc, and if he’s staying long term it might suit him well taking this route as hard as throw away years can be on the player
KP how long have I been telling you who he is. Starting to come around I see. Love Luka….
Come to NYC. You’ll be the biggest star athlete
In The World.
I blame the Mavs coach for the collapse. They had a huge lead in Game 3 then decided to rest Luka. That turned the series. Why would Luka sign max deal now. I’d wait to see what team does to help him. Glad KP continues to show he’s true worth. Would Boston trade Kemba for KP?
I actually think they would. And I think the Mavs would take that deal and run away laughing. As much as Kemba hasn’t produced in Boston. He’s the superior player right now. And adds a Mike Conley like presence to the Mavs.
What’s the deal with a Brunson/Doncic backcourt— Does it work? Looks good on paper. If Brunson is not smart enough to keep track of herky-jerky Doncic, trade for a PG that is. Brunson liked to be in charge at ‘Nova.
Hardaway, Richardson & Porzingus have negative on-offs. That is who to trade or let leave. WCStein had the best numbers with Doncic; sounds like a first-teamer.
The kings should be sent to Seattle for selecting marvin bagley