The Dallas Mavericks know they will start the playoffs on the back foot. Many will argue the Boston Celtics are the best team in the NBA, and the Mavs will have a hard time taking down the C’s when practically everyone keeping watch of this year’s Finals has their opponents winning it all.
However, that doesn’t mean that the Mavericks would roll over and let the Celtics trample them on their way to Banner #18. They are lucky to have Luka Doncic playing for them night in and night out.
He’s been a phenomenal star from the moment he entered the league. His on-court skills and excellent leadership helped the Mavs make their first Finals appearance since 2011.
Another thing that makes Luka a beloved player among Mavs fans is his attitude. Not only does he enjoy playing the game, but he also has a competitive chip on his shoulder. He’s always eager to take down opponents who slight him.
This may prove useful to the Mavericks as Doncic reportedly has a rocky relationship with one the Celtics’ former players.
Luka Doncic reportedly has beef with Kristaps Porzingis over time as Dallas Mavericks teammates
In Doncic’s second year in the NBA, Mark Cuban and the Dallas front office brought over Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks to give Luka a reliable one-two punch that can help the Mavericks make the playoffs.
While the Mavs did make the playoffs during their first year together, KP’s stint with the Mavericks didn’t result in any Finals appearances. He was eventually shipped off to Washington after two-and-a-half seasons with the team.
According to one insider, the biggest reason behind the Doncic-Porzingis partnership being short-lived was the disdain Doncic had over the Latvian big man.
Per The Spun’s Hunter Hodies:
“Luka did not like playing with him. There is an actual beef there. It’s going to be every time he touches the ball he’s getting booed,” former Mavericks player Chandler Parsons said, (first transcribed by the New York Post).
If this is true, you can expect the interactions between the two to be heated. They’re playing each other in the Finals, and Luka will use every slight possible to will his team to win.
