The Dallas Mavericks have had a divisive offseason, with many claiming it’s been great due to them making the right additions, while others claiming it’s been bad because they didn’t add any difference-makers.
The difference needs to come from within the team, as they made the Western Conference Finals with an imperfect roster in 2022. That was due to Luka Doncic‘s brilliance, something Kendrick Perkins thinks will be on display this season with Doncic slimming down.
“I think the Mavs did enough to be in the playoffs. I am not talking about the play-in tournament. I love what they did with the No. 10 pick with Lively, I love the addition of Seth Curry, and I definitely love skinny Luka.”
Perkins stressed the importance of Luka staying in shape throughout the season and not just coming into camp in good shape.
“When I bring up wack bodies, I was a part of that team when I played. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Luka come into training camp in shape, it’s about being able to sustain that for the long haul. Being able to be disciplined throughout the season, knowing you want to be at your peak during the postseason… That’s what Luka has to do.”
Luka has looked great in the videos and pictures he’s been sharing this offseason. Most of his training is for the FIBA World Cup in August, but he needs to take his conditioning through to the end of the season and not just till December.
Luka Doncic Addressing His Weight
A report recently surfaced suggesting the Mavericks have told Luka to slim down. Last season must have been eye-opening for both the franchise and the player, as Doncic started the season at a historic pace. He was playing heavy minutes with heavy usage, causing even head coach Jason Kidd to worry about his body holding up beyond December of last season.
Doncic’s body did hold up past December, but not for long. By the end of January, Luka was carrying minor injuries and couldn’t replicate his form from the first half of the season after the Mavs acquired Kyrie Irving. His body needs to hold up this season. Irving will ensure Luka doesn’t have an unmanageable workload, but the 24-year-old needs to ensure his body holds up to the playoffs, as it has in previous seasons.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
