3x NBA All-Star Luka Doncic not expected to speak tonight for preseason opener against Oklahoma City Thunder
The NBA season is less than two weeks away. After three and a half months of waiting for NBA action, fans are happy with the preseason bringing some action. First, we saw the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, head to Japan and take on the Washington Wizards in the 2-game NBA Japan Games.
Since then, we’ve been watching footage of training camps and other teams playing their first preseason games.
We saw Luka Doncic in August-September, when he helped Slovenia to the EuroBasket 2022 quarterfinals. He injured his wrist during the tournament. However, after a few days off, Doncic says he is fine now and we see him enjoying himself during training camp.
Also read: Luka Doncic’s battle cry during a recent Mavericks session will leave you laughing on the floor
Is Luka Doncic playing tonight?
Luka Doncic has had a busy summer. He led the Mavs to a run in the Western Conference Finals against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. After that, he didn’t have much free time, as he had to head to his national camp to prepare for the upcoming EuroBasket.
Since the tournament ended and he went home, Doncic had about eight days off before flying back to Dallas. Head coach Jason Kidd doesn’t want to pressure the young star and said Doncic could miss the first two preseason games.
Luka Doncic, unsurprisingly, didn’t play or drill during the open portion of the Mavs’ practice, but Jason Kidd said he “led all the defensive drills today, so it was Luka.”
He also said that Luka “probably won’t play one or two games here in preseason.”
— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) September 27, 2022
It really won’t affect Luka and his form, to be fair, missing a few preseason games. From now on, the Mavericks would look to get him healthy and ready for the season, instead of making him play in the preseason.
Also read: A Luka Doncic LeBron James team is on the cards, according to Brian “LeBron Whisperer” Windhorst
How would the Slovenian sensation perform in the upcoming season?
Luka had a spectacular summer as he led his national team to a place in the quarterfinals at the EuroBasket. He had some record-setting performances in the tournament, including his 47-point performance against Rudy Gobert and France.
Luka Doncic put on a SHOW against France 🔥
47 points7 REB5AST
And the most points scored in a EuroBasket match in 65 years 😤 pic.twitter.com/7ioavqYaB9
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 7, 2022
Doncic averaged 26 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in the FIBA tournament.
As for the upcoming season, everyone, including NBA general managers, expects big things from the 23-year-old. In the recent GM poll, Luka was the favorite to win the MVP in the upcoming season.
NBA GM Luka Doncic’s vote (48%) as the favorite to win MVP this season. 🍿🔥
(https://t.co/xkq3BkF00C) pic.twitter.com/W1I41PWxxw
— Central Hoop (@TheHoopCentral) October 4, 2022
Also Read: “That’s Some Bulls**t, Luka Doncic!”: Christian Wood Hilariously Forced To Profanity During 1vs1 vs Potential MVP
I mean, if this doesn’t tell you what one can expect from Luka in the next season, I don’t know what can.
