Disrespect: two of the most talented key players of the Kristaps Porzingis exchanged worlds in a team meeting. Why the owner and head coach’s suspended them in two mouths
After his Dallas Mavericks teammate was traded to the Washington Wizards, Luka Doncic acknowledged that “it didn’t obviously work out” even though he and Kristaps Porzingis were “building something great.”
After acquiring Porzingis in a major trade with the New York Knicks in 2019, the Mavericks decided to part ways with the massive former All-Star midway through his $158 million contract, despite high expectations for the player.
Although Porzingis averaged 20 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while playing for Dallas, injuries prevented him from ever achieving the kind of stature he did in New York.
He arrived recuperating from a left knee ACL injury, and during his first playoff game, he suffered meniscus damage to his right knee.
season.
Only 134 games were played by Porzingis overall; he appeared in 34 of 55 games this season, despite struggling with illness and injuries.
Doncic acknowledged the rationale behind the trade, which saw the Mavs acquire forward Davis Bertans and guard Spencer Dinwiddie, but he called it “shocking”.
Doncic remarked, “KP will be missed, obviously.” “Here, we were creating something truly amazing. Clearly, it didn’t work out.
“Welcome to our two new guys, and best wishes to him. Bertans is an excellent marksman. Dinwiddie has the ability to score when the ball hits the ground. The NBA is an enterprise.
“The wounds caused him a great deal of suffering. This year, in my opinion, he was much better. As I mentioned earlier, the NBA is a business, and I hope the best for him going forward.”
Doncic continued by saying he has faith in governor Mark Cuban and general manager Nico Harrison to assemble a team that can contend for NBA championships.
“I trust them, whatever move they make,” he declared.
“I believe my teammates are excellent. Many people are capable of doing many things, and I’ve improved greatly. I believe that our basketball game is excellent.”
