Luka Doncic wanted to play hard until the end. The Mavericks organization overruled him, then got eliminated from the postseason.
With a 38-42 record, 11th-place Dallas still had a chance to make the play-in tournament going into Friday’s action. But the Mavs rested five players Friday night in what ESPN’s Tim McMahon called a “transparent tank job.”
The reason?
Dallas still owes a first-round pick to the New York Knicks from the Kristaps Porzingis trade — but it’s top-10 protected. Before the game, the Mavs were tied for the 10th-worst record in the league with Friday’s opponent, the Chicago Bulls. The Mavs’ 115-112 loss to the Bulls means they will finish no better than that.
McMahon said, “The one thing the Mavs have a little bit of control over is not their ability to get in the play-in. They can have a little bit of control over whether they finish in the top ten in lottery odds.”
Doncic was not on board with the tanking plan, telling reporters Tuesday that he didn’t want to be shut down if Dallas could still make the playoffs. “When there’s still a chance, I’m gonna play,” Doncic said.
The organization apparently had a change of heart Friday, benching its important players. Doncic will play only the first quarter, and that’s because it’s “I Feel Slovenia” night, an event that promotes Doncic’s native country of Slovenia.
Coach Jason Kid didn’t appear to be on board with the tank job either.
“We all said we want to have the opportunity to find a way to get in,” Kidd told reporters, making it clear that sitting players wasn’t his idea.”
Mavericks swingman Theo Pinson apparently interpreted Dallas’ decisions as tanking, just like the rest of us did.
So after the Mavs traded two key players and a first-round pick for Kyrie Irving, they went 8-16 and dropped from fourth place to 11th. The owner blamed Jalen Brunson’s father for the Mavericks not paying him in free agency and railed about officiating. Luka’s teammate’s father called Doncic a “crybaby.”
Now, the team benched Doncic against his wishes — on Slovenia Night! — and is intentionally trying to miss the playoffs, despite having two All-Star starters on its team. Irving becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season, and owner Mark Cuban may not offer him a max deal. Doncic can’t be happy.
The Mavs superstar is signed through 2027, but this is the NBA. Having may years left on a contract doesn’t stop stars from forcing their way out of situations they don’t like. The last two months in Dallas have been a situation that no one likes. The Mavs should hope they aren’t tanking their relationship with Doncic this week too.
