Luka Doncic’s ’emotional’ moments defended by former teammate Jalen Brunson

Luka Doncic needs to manage his emotions better, especially in crucial games, is the general consensus now.

Luka Doncic’s ’emotional’ moments defended by former teammate Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson and Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic has faced intense criticism during the 2024 NBA Finals, and his former teammate Jalen Brunson has come to his defense. Brunson believes the criticism is unfair, considering Doncic is playing through injuries.

He also acknowledges that fouls can be subjective and emotions can run high in high-stakes games. However, some critics argue that while Doncic’s injuries may excuse his poor defense, his behavior on the court is inexcusable.

YouTube video
Yes, I think it's unfair. I don't want to use the injury (excuse) for him, but he's banged up. Fouls can be subjective. It’s a tough situation to be in. It’s an emotional game. Everyone is expecting, 'Hey, you're a grown man, you need to act like one.' This is an emotional thing, this is what everyone in this league has worked for. An opportunity like that and sometimes, emotions get the best of you.
Jalen Brunson told Taylor Rooks when asked about the criticism

He has been constantly complaining to officials and lost his cool in Game 3, fouling out in the fourth quarter as the Mavericks attempted a comeback. Despite Jalen Brunson’s defense, many believe that top players like Luka Doncic need to manage their emotions better, especially in crucial games. Doncic’s foul-out in Game 3 hurt the Mavericks’ chances, and they ultimately lost 106-99 to fall behind 3-0 in the series.

FS Video

Doncic’s stats in Game 3 were impressive (27 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal), but his efficiency was lacking (11/27 from the field and 1/7 from three-point range). The criticism of Doncic’s behavior and performance has been intense, but Brunson’s comments highlight the challenges of playing through injuries and high-pressure situations.

Luka Doncic apologizes for costly fouls in Game 3, vows to learn from mistakes

Luka Doncic expressed regret over his fouling out of Game 3 in the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, acknowledging it was a costly mistake. He apologized to his teammates, recognizing that his actions were not smart, especially in the high-stakes environment of the Finals.

It wasn't the smartest thing to do, especially in this situation, it's the Finals. We got to give everything. We're tired out there... It's my bad, you can't do that, especially in the NBA Finals. Regular season's a little bit different, but you can't really do that in the Finals.
Luka Doncic told Malika Andrews of NBA Today

Despite being one of the few bright spots for the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 29.7 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in the series, Doncic’s mistakes down the stretch proved detrimental. His sixth foul came in the backcourt, resulting in his ejection from the game, and he admitted that accumulating four fouls in eight minutes was unprecedented for him.

With the Mavericks facing a 3-0 deficit, Doncic’s fouls are a luxury they cannot afford to dwell on. The team must shift their focus to avoiding a sweep, and Doncic will need to manage his emotions and play smarter to help his team stay alive in the series.

In case you missed it: