ESPN Reporter’s Book Sheds New Light on Luka Doncic & Jamahl Mosley Conversation as Lakers Face Major Worry

2018’s third overall draft pick. Chosen by the Atlanta Hawks but destined to become a Dallas Mavericks legend. Luka Doncic walked into the NBA with two badges. First, EuroLeague champion with Real Madrid. Second, the youngest MVP in EuroLeague’s history. And mind you, no one’s beaten that record even after 7 years. But then, February 2 had other plans, or shall I say, Nico Harrison had other plans for the Slovenian Superstar.

It’s the same old story—Luka lands in LA, says goodbye to his only home in the States, and life moves on. Or does it? Enter The Wonder Boy, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon’s latest book, hitting shelves Tuesday. He’s not just telling Doncic’s tale—he’s peeling back the layers. The inside scoop on the Mavericks? Oh, it’s in there. And let’s just say, shocking doesn’t even begin to cover it as the Orlando Magic HC, Jamahl Mosley, finds himself in the mix.

The Wonder Boy unveils a new conversation on Luka Doncic and Jamahl Mosley

On Monday, Luka Doncic reunited with his ex-team’s ex-assistant coach, Jamahl Mosley. He is currently the head coach for the Orlando Magic, who aren’t doing particularly great this season. But the Lakers were overpowered by the 8th seed of the West. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Slovenian star scored 32 points amidst the loss. At the end of the game, Doncic was seen hugging Mosley, whom he truly revered back in the day. This is where the conversation fumed.

X user @missysinghsongs shared a clip of the moment Mosley and Luka shared on the court and captioned it: “If you read MacMahon‘s book, you’ll find what the Mavs allowed Carlisle to do to Mosley. Luka always liked him, so you know what that meant.” Of course, this triggered the curious minds who then rushed into the comments to know more.

The ex-Mavericks HC Rick Carlisle ran the show from 2008 to 2021. During his era, Dallas won their championship in 2011 and then continued to fight for a second banner. In 2014, Jamahl Mosley joined the Mavs as the assistant coach, and reports suggest he was more loved among the players than Carlisle. In 2019, Luka Doncic joined the squad and shared a special bond with Mosley, just like the others.

 

So, the story goes that Rick Carlisle had a major outburst, which upset the players. To smooth things over, he assigned assistant coach Jamahl Mosley as the middleman between him and the team. The players, however, grew more comfortable communicating with Mosley rather than directly with Rick. Feeling his authority was at risk, Rick saw Mosley as a potential threat to his position. To solve this, he attempted to get Mosley hired by another team, effectively pushing him out without directly firing him.

Meanwhile, Mosley coached for 1 game when Carlisle was out, and the players were so happy for Mosley when they won, and Carlisle was so upset about it. @missysinghsongs also added: “The book illustrated how Rick treated people like s—. Luka didn’t and would have never have stood for that. I think that’s why they were never able to make it work. Luka straight up disrespected that man during games because Rick did that to them behind closed doors.”

The real truth behind all of this will become clear only when Tim MacMahon releases his book on Tuesday. But for now, these stories from the

Dallas Mavericks squad could be an interesting topic of conversation among basketball fans. However, there are a few more pressing matters to talk about. What? Well, it’s about Luka Doncic, of course. Some believe the superstar looks exhausted.

Does Luka Doncic run out of gas by the start of Q4?

Mike Greenberg, Carlos Boozer, and Bobby Marks sat down to discuss Luka Doncic’s game after the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Orlando Magic 118-106 on Monday. Greenberg began by counting 77’s stats so far. He said: “Luka Donic has been spectacular in the first quarter. He averages basically 11 points—10.8 points in the first quarter of games—which is the best in the league during that span. In the other three quarters, he averages just under 17 points per game, and his shooting numbers fall off precipitously.”

Luka starts hot, no doubt. “He wants to put his fingerprints on the game, get buckets, and get to the line—whatever that case may be,” Boozer pointed out. But as the game unfolds, the vibe shifts. “It feels like he’s facilitating, and then his offense is secondary.” Maybe he’s even giving LeBron the spotlight—because, well, that’s what happens. But here’s the catch: “For them to go far, he’s going to have to have huge fourth quarters.” No coasting. No deferring. It’s go time when it matters most.

Moreover, Luka Doncic’s not gassed—he’s just figuring things out. Bobby Marks added: “So it’s not about him getting tired as the game goes on?” Nope. “I don’t think so.” The real issue? He’s still adjusting. “Mid-season trades are the hardest things to do because you’re basically learning this offense on the fly.” And sometimes, that means hesitating. “There was a stretch in that third quarter when the game got away where, as Buzzo said, he deferred.” He’s reading the game, but maybe a little too much?

Thus, Luka’s journey is anything but simple. The Wonder Boy uncovers the Mosley-Carlisle drama in Dallas, while analysts question his late-game struggles in his Lakers jersey. Is he pacing himself, overthinking, or just adjusting? One thing is certain. If LA wants a real shot at glory, Doncic must take over in the fourth quarter. No second-guessing, no holding back, just pure dominance.