Dallas Mavericks Point Guard Luka Doncic recently received some trash talk from Phoenix Suns Power Forward Kevin Durant. Doncic, 25, and the Mavericks took on Durant, 36, and the Suns at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday night. The Mavericks lost to the Suns 114-102, and Durant reached 29,000 career points to become the eighth player in NBA history to do so.
Doncic’s epic 40-point performance wasn’t enough to help the Mavericks win over the Suns on Saturday. Durant’s disrespectful “too small” gesture to Doncic was also a topic of discussion in basketball. Here’s the latest on Doncic being on the receiving end of Durant’s trash talk.
Kevin Durant’s Taunt To Luka Doncic
Kevin Durant’s taunt to Luka Doncic was widely considered disrespectful as the two NBA stars squabbled on the court. Durant hit a mid-range shot that Doncic contested late in the fourth quarter. Durant’s mid-range shot thwarted the Mavericks’ potential fourth quarter comeback. Durant then gave Doncic a “too small” gesture to taunt the Slovenian big man.
To be fair, Durant is a 6-foot-11 American big man who weighs 240 pounds while Doncic stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 230 pounds. Durant is one of the few perimeter players who can make Doncic “look small” as he’s nearly seven feet tall. The two big men traded baskets in the Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks game, so we’ll see if the former Real Madrid star will taunt the Texas men’s basketball alum next time.
Luka Doncic’s Performance In Phoenix
Luka Doncic’s performance in Phoenix, Arizona, was noteworthy, to say the least. Doncic posted 40 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in 39 minutes of play. The 25-year-old led the Dallas Mavericks in scoring, an accomplishment that proved the critics wrong even if it was just for one day.
Doncic was one of the top topics of discussion over the offseason, as he sustained a left calf contusion just one day into the Mavericks’ training camp and missed most of the team’s offseason. Doncic’s home opener availability wasn’t guaranteed. Although Doncic was made available for the opener, his full-strength health remains a question mark, as we don’t know how long he’ll play before sustaining another injury.
Luka Doncic Deals With Criticism
Luka Doncic deals with criticism from other people, not just Kevin Durant. Dallas Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd recently revealed how his criticism of Doncic plays a role in maintaining the Mavericks’ competitive edge in the NBA. Kidd appeared to find a way to maximize Doncic’s impact, both on and off the court.
Bolavip reported that Kidd elaborated on his criticism in a recent interview with ESPN’s Tim McMahon, “Sometimes you have to do it because it’s not about him, it’s about the others … You have to use him as an example.” Kidd added that coaches like him must demonstrate to the rest of their teams that the coaches’ authority is final and not the players’ authority, or “everything else goes sideways.”
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