Dallas Mavericks fans are on edge after a troubling video of Luka Doncic surfaced during the Mavericks’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The superstar guard, who suffered a calf strain on Christmas Day, was seen struggling to get up from the bench, barely able to put weight on his injured leg. Luka used a medical scooter, placing his injured leg on top and pushing himself away, further amplifying concerns about his recovery timeline.
10 days after the injury. Luka can barely step on his foot. I want to die. pic.twitter.com/l0V08hrhDG
— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) January 5, 2025
The Mavericks initially announced that Doncic would be reevaluated after a month, meaning he is expected to miss significant time. However, seeing him in such a state just 10 days post-injury has raised fears that the issue could be more severe than initially thought. For a team with championship aspirations, this development couldn’t come at a worse time.
Doncic has already missed 13 games this season, a stark contrast to his usual availability. Despite this, the Slovenian phenom has maintained elite production, averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists while shooting 46.4% from the field and 35.4% from three-point range.
While those numbers are slightly down from previous seasons, they remain All-NBA caliber. However, Doncic is almost certain to miss out on an All-NBA team selection this year due to the league’s new 65-game minimum requirement for awards eligibility.
The timing is particularly frustrating for Doncic, who is coming off his first NBA Finals appearance. Last season, the Mavericks made an impressive playoff run before falling to the Boston Celtics in five games. The offseason saw Dallas bolster their roster with the additions of veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson and versatile wing Naji Marshall, moves aimed at keeping the team in contention.
Currently sitting at sixth in the Western Conference with a 20-15 record, the Mavericks have managed to tread water without their star at times this season. However, their margin for error is shrinking rapidly. The Western Conference remains incredibly competitive, and with the fifth-toughest remaining schedule, Dallas will need to overachieve to maintain their playoff position.
The video of Doncic struggling has sparked widespread concern among Mavericks fans, who know how critical he is to their team’s success. His ability to control the pace of the game, create scoring opportunities for himself and others, and dominate in clutch moments is irreplaceable. Without Doncic, Dallas will lean heavily on Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and other role players to pick up the slack, but it’s unclear if that will be enough in the loaded Western Conference.
While Doncic’s individual accolades—such as five consecutive First Team All-NBA selections—are impressive, they pale in comparison to his ultimate goal of winning a championship. For Doncic, missing games and potentially losing out on accolades this season will mean little if he can return fully healthy and help his team contend in the playoffs.
For now, Mavericks fans can only hope that Doncic’s recovery progresses smoothly and that the alarming video does not signify a prolonged absence. With their season hanging in the balance, all eyes in Dallas remain fixed on their superstar’s path back to the court.
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