Just days from the start of preseason, the Dallas Mavericks had to be the bearer of bad news. The backbone of the franchise, Luka Doncic, has suffered a calf strain early in training camp while preparing for the upcoming season. The ailment isn’t major. He is to be reevaluated within a week. Jason Kidd, the head coach, is optimistic that the extended time away won’t affect his eventual adjustment to the new-looking roster.

Having come from playing through multiple injuries in the NBA Finals followed by national duty, Doncic seemed to have healed well from his past injuries. “I thought Saturday, Sunday his pickup games looked good,” Kidd revealed.

The calf injury will unfortunately force him to sit one or a few preseason games which could impact the chemistry. Yet, this shouldn’t be a constant worry throughout the season as it has been in the past.

By adding Klay Thompson and the enticing development of the roster, the 25-year-old has a “different weapon” to hit. According to Kidd, in the past, Doncic tended to do everything on the court. The maddening stat lines show just how much onus he put on himself to make an all-around impact. Ultimately, it took a toll on his physical condition.

Notably, Doncic nursed through an ankle sprain, a calf injury, and a thoracic contusion. It required hours of treatment and also waned his output in some ways.

The nagging injury, though, will probably go away with the caliber of players surrounding the star. Most importantly, Doncic himself is fully committed to the adjustment. “But I think the big thing is he is ready to go. This is the deepest team that he has been a part of,” Jason Kidd said during his 1-on-1 with DLLS Sports.

Why Luka Doncic shouldn’t suffer physical exhaustion this season

Over the past few seasons, Luka Doncic’s usage stats rank the highest in the league. Of the players who played at least 50 games, the Slovenian’s responsibilities ranked the highest. His 35.5% usage rate was far above the rest. Furthermore, the distribution was astonishing, with him accounting for close to half of the total assists and 35.9% of the Mavericks total points during the season.

Likewise, his injuries kept piling up. More than him wanting to do so, Dallas required him to be present. However, there are a few reasons to believe that won’t be the case this season. Firstly, the advent of Klay Thompson. In terms of three-point makes the renowned shooter should take off some defensive pressure off the perennial MVP candidate. As Doncic himself said, “If you leave him wide open, he’s going to make it”. 

Even in his ‘down’ season, Thompson could shoot 39% from beyond the arc. Furthermore, he has devoted himself to adapting to playing a stationary role, unlike his movement at the Golden State Warriors. He is aware of the clean looks he is bound to get with Doncic and Irving being crafty creators.

Another reason that personally stands out is the progression of second-year center Dereck Lively II. Despite his youthful exuberance, he displayed great maturity in mastering one particular role in the offseason. “I’m working on this all offseason, I’m just trying to be more dominant when it comes to the paint,” he said of his preparations. The blossoming Mavericks center had some electric plays during the postseason and is an efficient scorer inside the arc.

In only 23 minutes per game, Lively averaged 6.9 rebounds per game and contributed heavily as a screener. During the playoffs, he averaged 1.32 points every possession in the P&R, ranking fifth in the league. He would very well be promoted as a starter solely for the explosiveness and command he brings through his presence.

With a “deep” roster finally in his hands, Luka Doncic wants to maximize his utility rather than output. Delegating is going to be crucial for the Mavericks, who after falling short are eyeing for a championship this year.