Luka Doncic Offseason Plan: 5 Key Improvements Mavs Star Can Make
Although the Dallas Mavericks didn’t qualify for the postseason this year, not much of the blame can be put on the shoulders of the franchise’s prized superstar Luka Doncic, who became just the second player in NBA history to average at least 32 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for an entire season.
Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, who is widely regarded as the greatest player of all-time, is the only other player to accomplish such a feat during the 1988-89 season. That’s pretty good company for Doncic to be in after just five NBA seasons.
Mavs GM Nico Harrison has publicly stated that Doncic and co-star Kyrie Irving aren’t the problem, and that Dallas’ failed season was mainly due to the roster’s shortcomings around the duo.
That being said, Doncic never misses an opportunity to take responsibility for his team’s shortcomings, as any great leader would. Despite being one of the top players in the league on his way to a fourth All-NBA selection in five years, there are five key areas of his game that can be improved this offseason.
Controlling Emotions with Officials
If there hadn't been a handful of Doncic's technical fouls rescinded this year and last year, he would've reached the 16-tech limit in both of the last two seasons, resulting in automatic suspensions. Doncic plays the game with a lot of raw passion, but sometimes that passion can get out of control, getting him in trouble with the officials.
Not only do his techs result in opposing teams getting extra free-throw attempts, but most times, it also results in giving up easy buckets in transition, as Doncic remains in the backcourt arguing no-calls instead of hustling back on defense.
As the leader of the Mavs, Doncic's actions set the tone for the rest of the roster, and he must be better in this area going forward. If he doesn’t let the officiating dictate his mood, his team will feed off of that positive energy.
Making the Most of Free Throws
Doncic made a career-high 7.8 free throws per game and shot a career-high 10.5 free throws per game during the 2022-23 campaign. That kind of progress is great to see, because it means Doncic is continuously attacking the rim and not settling for as many bad three-point attempts. However, he must find a way to push his free-throw percentage over the 80-percent mark for those career-high attempts to really mean something.
The Mavs played a league-high 55 clutch games this season, but they went just 26-29 in those games. Making a few more free throws on a more consistent basis could go a long way toward turning that clutch trend around next season.
More Consistency on Defense
The idea that Doncic can’t play defense is severely outdated. He has proven time and time again that he can play defense when he feels like it. The consistency and attention to detail just isn’t always there.
Doncic averaged 1.4 steals per game this season, which was tied for fifth in the league among players who played in at least 50 games. However, he ranked in the bottom third of the league in defensive rating with a handful of his Mavs teammates. Finding a way to keep his energy and awareness up on defense more often is the next step toward truly competing for a championship for Doncic.
Having Kyrie Irving continue to lesson his load on offense next season would help a lot, but it would also help if the Mavs add more natural defenders around their dynamic offensive duo.
Pick Up the Pace on Offense
When it comes to pace, only two teams played slower than the Mavs did this season – the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. Doncic is elite when it comes to executing half-court offense, but if he wants to enhance his already-solid fit with Irving next season – assuming Irving re-signs with Dallas in free agency in a few months from now of course – he must commit to playing faster while creating more fast-break opportunities.
Good things typically happen when Doncic and company decide to turn on the jets. Perhaps the reason they don't do it more often is due to roster construction. If that's the case, GM Nico Harrison needs to focus on upgrading his team's overall youth and athleticism via the draft, free agency and trades this summer.
Maintain Offseason Conditioning Throughout Entire Season
After being ridiculed for his conditioning during the 2021-22 season, Doncic came into this season in arguably the best shape of his career after playing for the Slovenian national team last summer. Historic early-season numbers followed because of that, but as the season progressed, it appeared that Doncic struggled to maintain that same physical form.
To be fair to Doncic, he endured a couple of unfortunate, nagging injuries throughout the season that surely held him back from being in his 100-percent best form, but the goal for him going forward will be to figure out a way to sustain his prime, in-shape form from opening night through the entire regular season like some of his peer superstars do.
Follow Dalton Trigg on Twitter @dalton_trigg.
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