Dallas Mavericks fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the team’s newly formed ‘Big Three’ in action will have to wait a bit longer. While Luka Doncic participated in his first practice in two weeks on Wednesday, the star point guard is still unlikely to play in Thursday’s preseason matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Doncic has been sidelined since sustaining a left calf contusion during training camp. Thankfully, an MRI revealed no major damage, and the Mavericks opted for a week of rest before he resumed on-court activities. Head coach Jason Kidd reported that Doncic looked “really, really well” in practice, which is certainly encouraging news.
The Mavericks begin their regular season next week, hosting the San Antonio Spurs on October 24th. Doncic’s absence from Thursday’s game means that the first time the Mavericks will field their star trio of Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson together will be in the season opener.
Thompson, the veteran sharpshooter, has already played in several preseason games while dealing with back tightness. He has struggled offensively, including a dismal 0-for-9 performance against the Clippers on Monday. Despite his slow start, Thompson remains a crucial piece of the Mavericks’ puzzle, especially considering the three-year, $50 million deal he signed in free agency.
Doncic, a five-time First-Team All-NBA selection, is one of the league’s most dominant players. In 400 career regular-season games, he has averaged an impressive 28.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. He even surpassed those numbers last season, leading the league in scoring with 33.9 points per game while adding a career-high 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Despite battling injuries, Doncic still managed to play in 22 postseason games, averaging 40.9 minutes, 28.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists.
With Doncic’s return to practice, the Mavericks are hopeful that he can make a full recovery and be ready for the regular season opener. The team’s potential for success hinges on the health and performance of their star trio, and the league is eagerly anticipating the chance to see them all play together.