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Luka Doncic asserted a few days ago that he will play as long as the Dallas Mavericks are still alive to make the play-in tournament. “Luka Legend” did play, but for only 13 minutes as team owner Mark Cuban decided to rest the Mavs’ best players, including Kyrie Irving.
Fans, who expected much more from the Mavs, trolled Cuban and his team:
"Mark Cuban grinning from ear to ear"
Heading into the game against the Bulls, both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving were on the Mavericks' injury report as probable. The Slovenian was recovering from a thigh injury while Irving had the same status with his right foot.
"Luka Legend" probably saw action only because Dallas honored Slovenia, the basketball star's home country. He scored 13 points, five rebounds and three assists. Had the fans known that was his swan song for the season, they would have given him a standing ovation.
Tim Hardaway Jr. and Maxi Kleber were sidelined due to injuries. Josh Green and Christian Wood sat out as they were given the night off. Markieff Morris and Jaden Hardy, who carried the cudgels for the undermanned Mavericks in the first half, were shut down in the second.
After the game, coach Jason Kidd told the media that it was Mark Cuban and general manager Nico Harrison who made the call to rest the players.
Cuban and Harrison knew Dallas and Chicago shared the 10th-worst record in the NBA. The Mavericks gave up their game against the Bulls as they wanted to keep the 10th pick of the 2023 NBA Draft. The 11th or lower pick will be sent to the New York Knicks as part of the Kristaps Porzingis deal in 2019.
The final draft order will be determined via the NBA Draft Lottery. Dallas has a 4.5% chance of landing the No. 1, which will presumably be French phenom Victor Wembanyama.
Luka Doncic has already expressed his frustrations with the way the 2022-23 season played out
Heading into the Dallas Mavericks' matchup against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, Luka Doncic was adamant he wasn't giving up. He had this to say to the media:
“There’s little chance. We all know that. But, like I said, as long as there’s a chance, I’ll play.
He added when asked about the possibility of the Mavs shutting him down for the season:
“I think they knew that I wouldn’t want to do it. They know me like that.”
Mark Cuban and Nico Harrison might as well have shut him down tonight against the Chicago Bulls. Luka Doncic was allowed to play but without the supporting cast that helped him get to this point.
A few days ago, the All-Star guard replied candidly to the media that he missed Jalen Brunson as a player and as a teammate.
After losing 129-122 to the Miami Heat on Apr. 1, Luka Doncic surprised reporters when he said that he wasn't having any fun at all. "Luka Legend" didn't look happy when he was taken off for the last time this season in the second quarter of the Bulls game.
Mark Cuban insisted to the media a few days ago that Doncic wants to play out his career in Dallas. The billionaire, however, added that they will have to "earn" his trust.
Luka Doncic has trusted them so far. He was a loyal soldier tonight. Cuban and Harrison already have their work cut out for them in the offseason to retain their superstar's trust.
