Despite previously being critical of Doncic, NBA Hall of Famer Reggie Miller is unhappy with how the Dallas Mavericks have treated their former star since his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Mavericks dealt Doncic to the Lakers a week ago, and the move continues to dominate NBA discussions. Many have labeled it one of the most shocking trades in league history.
Among those surprised is Miller, now a TNT analyst, who recently shared his thoughts on NBA TV regarding the way Dallas has portrayed Doncic post-trade.
Miller’s Response to Mavericks’ Narrative
“One thing I’ve kinda taken offense to a little bit because I was someone who was critical of Luka, too,” Miller said. “I felt that he needed to be in better shape, but I don’t like the character assassination on him floating from the Mavericks. And if it’s coming from the Mavericks about the reason why we traded him, he wasn’t in great shape, his conditioning, he would never get in shape… You guys know this, at least, I hope you do. You don’t become a First-Team All-NBA player five years in a row if you’re not in shape. So please stop the character assassination that this guy is out of shape, he’s lazy. I don’t like that, because you don’t get at that level at the age of 25 without doing what he’s done. So, there’s other things behind the scenes that I’m sure we don’t know about, but let’s not make it about conditioning.”Miller makes a compelling argument. While concerns about Doncic’s conditioning have been raised before, it’s hardly a justifiable reason for such a monumental trade. At just 25, Doncic already has a Hall of Fame-worthy resume. Conditioning alone wouldn’t be the primary reason for trading him, nor would improving defensively, as Dallas had one of the NBA’s best defensive teams following last season’s trade deadline.
Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont and General Manager Nico Harrison have pointed to building a better team culture, but reports suggest Doncic was well-liked in the locker room. Ultimately, Dallas’ handling of the situation may only fuel Doncic’s motivation for years to come.
