Considering his history of stirring up chaos and strife, it’s easy to blame Kyrie Irving for the state of the Mavericks, who are currently 11th in the Western Conference.
And while Kyrie’s defensive limitations have certainly been a problem for the Mavs, Stephen A. Smith doesn’t blame him for their struggles. Instead, as he explained on First Take, it’s Luka who deserves some heat for how this season has gone.
“I don’t have a single negative syllable to utter about Kyrie Irving. He is not the problem in Dallas. He has brought to Dallas what you brought him to Dallas to do. Luka is the one, dare I say, that has a huge question mark hovering over him, and it’s nothing statistical… Luka gets 41, and they lose the game. Luka’s not only depressed after the game, he looks depressed during the game. You talk about a level of demoralization that has kicked in, this is one of the things I was told before Kyrie Irving ever played a game: ‘we’re gonna find out about Luka as a leader.’ And I don’t recall seeing a player that looked in better shape at the beginning of the season than they look during the season. Luka’s gotten heavier! I haven’t spoken to anybody in Dallas, but there’s something going on. In terms of galvanizing the troops, maximizing potential around him, and leading, he is sorely lacking.”
.@stephenasmith talks about what is going on in Dallas:
"I don't have a single negative syllable to utter about Kyrie Irving. He is not the problem in Dallas. … Luka is the one, dare I say, that has a huge question mark hovering over him, and it's nothing statistical." pic.twitter.com/w8XZ91FUtU
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 3, 2023
Luka’s body language has been a topic of conversation all season long. Long before the Kyrie Irving trade, Doncic was guilty of letting his head hang low, and he frequently looked defeated when things weren’t going his way.
Now, his emotions have seemingly gotten worse as the struggles continue with Irving on the roster.
What Is Wrong With Luka Doncic?
While Luka’s performance on the court has not fallen off, he recently admitted to feeling frustration for various reasons that are both personal and professional.
“It’s really frustrating,” Doncic said. “I think you can see it with me on the court. Sometimes I don’t feel it’s me. I’m just being out there, you know? I used to have really fun smiling on court, but it’s just been so frustrating for a lot of reasons, not just basketball.”
No. 77 is clearly someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, and it seems he can fall victim to his emotions at times. But if the Mavericks really want to turn the season around, Doncic is going to have to keep his cool and do a better job of leading his troops into battle.
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