Even with all his talent on the court, Luka Doncic has never stepped foot on the biggest stage of them all. But if former NBA star Goran Dragic had his way, the All-Star guard will have to change his game if he wants the Dallas Mavericks to become champions.
Just recently, the Mavs managed to get the 96-93 win over the Los Angeles Clippers to tie the series. In Game 2, Doncic put up 32 points, six rebounds, and nine assists in 45 minutes on the court. Kyrie Irving dropped 23 points and six assists, while PJ Washington made 18 points on 75 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Unlike in Game 1, the Clippers finally have Kawhi Leonard in the lineup. The two-time NBA champion finished the game with 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and four steals. James Harden and Paul George tallied 22 points each, while Ivica Zubac had another double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Th win helped Dallas even the series after the Luka Doncic-led team lost Game 1 to a Kawhi Leonard-less Clippers squad. It also gave the Mavs an advantage since they stole a victory inside their opponent’s home court.
Former NBA Star Claims Dallas Mavericks Star Luka Doncic Needs to Change His Game to Win
There’s no doubt Doncic has the talent to appear consistently in the playoffs, and even go far beyond the first round. But according to former NBA star Goran Dragic, the Mavs All-Star needs to change his game if he wants to become a champion. In an article written by Vincent Frank for Sportsnaut:
“I think so, he can win, he just needs to change a little bit, maybe trust his teammates more. I’m not saying, because he does pass the ball, but just get off the ball a little bit more,” Dragic said on The OGs podcast. “And because of, you know, if you have the ball so much in your hand you get tired, and then it’s a long season and even in the playoffs you know I think that’s too much,” Frank wrote.
Over the course of 70 games during the regular season, Doncic averaged 9,8 assists per game. While this stat shows him passing more, Dragic’s point of him playing off the ball in an increased manner may be beneficial to the Mavericks.
With Irving onboard as a capable shot-creator and clutch player, Dragic’s assessment may hold some water for Dallas to consider. There’s nothing left to lose, especially if the Mavs have run out of options to become better in the short term.
More must-reads: