The Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for the upcoming season with high hopes after making it to the NBA Finals last year. Luka Doncic had an outstanding season, coming in third in MVP voting while averaging impressive numbers of 33.9 PPG, 9.8 APG, and 9.2 RPG. However, Jason Kidd, the Mavericks’ coach, is looking to reduce Doncic’s workload this season.
In a recent interview with Marc Stein of DLLS, Kidd expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to support Doncic better than ever before. Kidd emphasized that this is the most talented team Doncic has been a part of, with a variety of offensive weapons at his disposal. Kidd believes that by sharing the responsibilities and not putting all the pressure on Doncic, they can bring out the best in him. This approach is new for Doncic, who has always felt the need to do everything for the team.
During the offseason, the Mavericks made strategic moves to lighten Doncic’s burden. They acquired sharpshooter Klay Thompson in a sign-and-trade deal, added versatile player Naji Marshall to the roster, and traded for Quentin Grimes to provide additional ball-handling skills. With these new additions, the Mavericks now have a deep roster with at least twelve players who can contribute on any given night. The development of young players like Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Kessler Edwards could further increase the team’s depth.
Doncic faced challenges in the playoffs last season, dealing with injuries and shouldering a heavy workload. He has consistently had one of the highest usage rates in the NBA for the past five seasons. The Mavericks are aiming to preserve Doncic for the playoffs by reducing his workload during the regular season, knowing that he is capable of stepping up when it matters most.
As the Mavericks prepare for the upcoming season, fans can expect to see a more balanced approach to utilizing Doncic’s talents. With a deeper and more talented team around him, Doncic can focus on leading the team to success without feeling the need to do everything himself. Stay tuned to MavericksGameday for comprehensive coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the 2024-25 season and follow MavericksGameday and Austin Veazey on Twitter for more updates.