As we near the two-month anniversary of the NBA getting indefinitely suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we suddenly got some encouraging news. It was announced this past Tuesday that the league will soon be allowing teams from certain cities to start holding practices again, most probably in the next week or so.
However, there’s also one frustrating factor that will derail the other teams’ path in returning to form. Among the squads that will most definitely be pestered by the process is the Dallas Mavericks, since it will include their star, Luka Doncic.
Flying back the team’s home city presents an extra challenge. Foreign-born players such as the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, who flew home on a private jet to Slovenia after the NBA shutdown, according to sources, will have to fly back to the United States and then quarantine. Even players who flew out of state during the shutdown will have to make their way back and then quarantine.
Hopefully, things get taken care of fast. Though they are world class athletes who are mentally conditioned to always be in shape, being far out of from their routines for over two months is still a rough road to climb out of. Luka and the Mavericks will also try to prepare hard if in case the NBA’s plan is to still hold a couple of regular season games before jumping into the playoffs. The Mavs are currently seventh in the Western Conference standings with a 40-27 record, and well within striking distance from catching the fourth-seeded, 41-23 Utah Jazz. Doing so will give them home court advantage in the first round.
Additionally, the consistently rising Slovenian star is hoping to maintain his mojo, performance-wise and stat-wise. In just two-and-a-half seasons, the 21-year-old has catapulted himself into having one of the smoothest offensive games in the league, as evident in his great footwork and flurry of moves from anywhere on the floor. While he’s at it, he has also showed off his stat-stuffing abilities.
Luka leads the league in triple-doubles this season, with 13, and he’s also the only player in the 2019-20 campaign to rank inside the top 18 in points (28.7), rebounds (9.3), assists (8.7), and threes (2.9) per game.
But, of course, the protocol is what’s best for everyone, regardless of how tedious it can be. Considering the level of scare that the virus has generated, it’s safe to assume that Luka and the Mavs will be willing to oblige.
