Luka Doncic to miss playoffs despite becoming only second player after Michael Jordan to ACHIEVE historic milestone
Luka Doncic's historic season cut short as Mavericks miss out on playoffs
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Michael Jordan and Luka Doncic (Kevin Mazur/ GETTY)
The Dallas Mavericks had high hopes for the 2022-2023 NBA season, but unfortunately, it didn’t go as planned. Despite having one of the league’s best offensive players in Luka Doncic, the Mavericks struggled to find their groove and missed the playoff/play-in contention.
The Mavericks’ struggles were evident in the last 27 games of the season, where they lost 17 games and dropped from the 6th seed to the 11th seed. The team’s addition of Kyrie Irving was expected to boost their chances of making a deep playoff run, but it seemed to have backfired on them.
In their must-win game against the Bulls, the Mavericks rested four key players, including Irving, and pulled Doncic out of the game after the first quarter. Despite their efforts, they fell short and were eliminated from playoff contention.
The loss was a disappointing end to a season that had so much promise for the Mavericks. However, the team and their fans can take relief in the fact that Doncic had an incredible season, averaging 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and eight assists per game. He also became only the second player in NBA history to achieve this feat, matching Michael Jordan’s record from the 1988-1989 season.
Mark Cuban’s reaction and the Mavericks’ draft pick
After the Mavericks’ loss to the Bulls, team owner Mark Cuban was caught on camera with mixed emotions. While he appeared upset at the team’s loss, he also seemed to be smirking at the same time.
Many fans and analysts speculated on the reason behind Cuban’s reaction, and it seems that he was happy about the team’s position in the upcoming draft. With the loss, the Mavericks have secured the 10th spot in the lottery odds, which means they can keep their Top-10 pick in the 2023 draft instead of giving it to the New York Knicks.
Cuban’s reaction may seem odd to some, but it highlights the importance of draft picks in the NBA. As a team that missed the playoffs, the Mavericks can still benefit from securing a high draft pick and adding a talented young player to their roster.
Looking ahead to their final game against the Spurs, the Mavericks will likely rest their starters again to solidify their chances of keeping their draft pick. While it may not be the playoff run they hoped for, the Mavericks and their fans can look forward to the future and the potential of adding another talented player to their roster.
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Vivek Yadav
(624 Articles Published)