The trade, which brought Anthony Davis to Dallas, has become increasingly scrutinized after Davis sustained an injury in his first appearance with the team.
Recent reports suggest the Mavericks organization harbored significant concerns about Dončić’s long-term health and conditioning.
Some within the former organization expressed worry that the Slovenian star’s physical condition could lead to serious problems within the next five years. These concerns apparently factored into the franchise’s decision to trade the five-time All-Star.
“They predict his basketball demise, highlighting a health history that, as some see it, will likely lead to catastrophe in the next five years or so,” The Athletic reported.
Despite these reported concerns, Dončić’s durability statistics tell a different story:
| Season | Games Played |
|---|---|
| 2018-2023 | 61+ each season |
Dončić has consistently maintained availability, never experiencing what most analysts would classify as a major injury. His recent ailments have included:
The star’s lifestyle choices have allegedly troubled some within the Mavericks organization. Reports mention his fondness for beer and hookah smoking as potential factors affecting his conditioning—a topic that has followed Dončić throughout his career.
Weight management has been a recurring theme in discussions about Dončić, with his fluctuating physical condition occasionally becoming a target for criticism. Despite these supposed issues, his on-court performance has remained consistently elite, earning him All-NBA honors and establishing him as one of the league’s most dominant players.
The Lakers appear to be betting on Dončić maturing in his approach to conditioning and health management, following a pattern seen with many NBA stars who adopt more rigorous fitness regimens as their careers progress. His performance since joining the Lakers has been impressive, including a triple-double (19 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists) in a victory against his former team.
The timing of these unflattering reports emerging from Dallas coincides with Dončić’s early success with the Lakers, creating speculation about potential motivations behind the narratives being advanced. For the Lakers, the acquisition represents a significant investment in a 26-year-old superstar who could potentially anchor their franchise for the next decade.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
