NBA: Doncic will probably not play Summer League

Luka Doncic, the draft pick of the Dallas Mavericks, will probably not make it to the Las Vegas Summer League. According to media reports, the Slovenian will instead recover from the long season at Real Madrid in the ACB and EuroLeague.

This is reported by Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Accordingly, the Mavs believe Doncic would make up for a time-out after a ten-month season in Spain. Dennis Smith Jr. is said to be available for some games in Nevada.

The Summer League in Las Vegas starts on July 6, with Dallas meeting the Phoenix Suns first. Doncic will then be with the team and train. The focus is on strength and endurance to prepare the 19-year-old for the NBA as best as possible.

Together with Smith and Harrison Barnes, Doncic will form the core of the new Mavs team. GM Donnie Nelson even compared the trio to the combo from Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash and Michael Finley, who caused the change in the franchise 20 years ago.

“We believe we now have a good foundation,” said Nelson at the PK after the draft when Doncic and second-round pick Jalen Brunson was introduced. “It feels a little like 20 years ago. Now all we have to do is grow together.”

Dallas finished last season with a score of 24-58, so they had their fifth pick in the 2018 draft, and a trade with Atlanta allowed the Mavs to secure Doncic with their third pick, while the Hawks got Point Guard Trae Young and a future first-round pick in return.