Former Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Marko Milic has finally broken his silence after leaving the franchise earlier this year, and his comments have sparked a powerful conversation about bias, perception, and what it means to be “the best” in the NBA today.
Milic, who worked closely with Luka Doncic during his three years in Dallas, made it clear in recent interviews that he believes Americans have a hard time accepting the dominance of European stars like Doncic and Nikola Jokic, precisely because they don’t fit the league’s traditional athletic mold.
“I am not like the Americans who follow their own criteria. Regardless of what was criticized, Luka was the best scorer in the league, he really had top seasons.”
“In simple terms, they find it difficult to understand that Luka and Jokić are the best players in the world, because they are not according to their athletic standards, but mentally, technically, tactically and with a smile on their face they dominate the league and that is why they are always looking for something.”
“They will surely find something else even now, when he looks like a model.”
Milic was candid in expressing his frustrations with the double standards he believes European players face. That belief isn’t unfounded. Jokic is a three-time MVP and NBA champion who dismantled some of the league’s most physical teams using his unmatched vision, footwork, and IQ.
Doncic, meanwhile, led the league in scoring, has five All-NBA First Team selections before the age of 26, and recently transformed his body into peak condition during the offseason.
Milic argued that while American fans and media often measure greatness through speed, vertical leap, or physique, Doncic and Jokic win through something far more dangerous: mentality and technical brilliance.
He also criticized the persistent narrative around Luka’s conditioning. Now that Doncic has slimmed down and elevated his fitness with a meticulous offseason routine, including intermittent fasting, sugar reduction, and protein-focused training, Milic joked that critics will simply find a new reason to doubt him.
Milic’s departure from Dallas came after Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in what is already being remembered as one of the most seismic trades in NBA history. Alongside Luka, his personal trainer Anze Macek also left the Mavericks.
Despite early rumors, Milic did not join the Lakers’ staff, instead returning to Slovenia to take on a role focused on youth development with the national basketball federation. Still, his connection with Doncic remains strong, both personally and professionally.
The assistant coach’s comments tap into a larger cultural conversation about how basketball greatness is defined. In an era that often celebrates raw athleticism, Milic’s defense of cerebral, skill-based dominance is a reminder that basketball is not just a game of physical gifts, but also one of vision, anticipation, and control.
And in that arena, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic are rewriting the rules of what it means to be elite.
