(Los Angeles) Hero of the Dallas Mavericks that he took to the NBA final, Slovenian magician Luka Doncic was able to overcome criticism during a frustrating final, but remained evasive about his participation in the qualification Slovenia’s Olympic Games in two weeks.
“I don’t want to talk about what’s next. I have decisions to make. I want to be healthier,” Doncic said in a press conference after the game.
Slovenia is in fact engaged in a qualifying tournament for the Paris Olympic Games (July 26–August 11) in Greece in two weeks (July 2–7). Unlucky semi-finalists against France in Tokyo in 2021, the Slovenes will notably have to eliminate Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece, this tournament making at least one unfortunate among the two NBA stars.
But Doncic’s statement casts doubt on his participation, he who had to deal with several injuries during the playoffs, where this basketball magician will have once again passed a milestone, bringing Dallas to the top of a Western association that is nevertheless very elevated, with a less flashy workforce than several competitors.
Doncic dominates the total rankings of the player with the most points, rebounds, assists and steals in the final stages, having shown himself to be both an excellent manager and decisive in key moments.
But the Slovenian was unable to do anything against the Boston Celtics collective, despite quality offensive production.
During Game 3, he showed all his frustration by being out for 6 personal fouls 4 minutes from the end of a close game, which turned in favor of the Celtics.
A match which had earned him strong criticism, notably from the American media, for his low defensive level and his lack of concentration, he who vehemently contested each refereeing decision against him.
“No one here is perfect. Leave him alone,” his trainer Jason Kidd defended him in the face of criticism deemed “unfair.”
“I wasn’t smart. We’re in the final. I apologized to my teammates, I couldn’t do that to them,” Doncic then declared on ESPN, before rebounding brilliantly in Game 4, the only one won by Dallas.
Clumsy shooting on Monday (2 of 9 from a distance, for 28 points all the same), Doncic assured that they would “fight together” next season with his teammate Kyrie Irving to win a title.
