“Everyone was terrified” of Luka Doncic - former Mavericks executive gives insight after Lakers trade
A former executive for the Dallas Mavericks spoke about his experience with Luka Doncic now that he was shockingly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
In case there was any doubt, no - Mavericks fans are still not okay. We’re still not over it. The Luka Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers will likely be something we’ll mourn for a long time to come. But alas, it’s the reality. And as the dust settles (slowly), we’re hearing tidbits here and there about what was going on behind the scenes. None seem to justify the trade, but I digress.
6 years of ‘magic’ in a Dallas Mavericks uniform, encapsulated in one video.
— HeroOfTheDay (@Hero_OfThe_Day) February 18, 2025
After the trade, he said “Thank you for not only sharing my joy in our best moments, but also for lifting me up when I needed it most.”
He didn’t just add to the culture, Luka Doncic WAS the culture. pic.twitter.com/dD01CuHtru
Recently, a former executive for the Mavs, Haralabos Voulgaris, revealed some surprising insights on a podcast called “My First Million.”
“They wanted to kiss his a**”
Voulgaris worked with the Mavericks from 2018, the year Doncic joined the team from Real Madrid, until 2021. As is typical for a basketball superstar, which Doncic quickly became in the NBA, he had a lot of say in the team’s day-to-day decisions - much more than the average player. And according to Voulgaris, this made him a feared player.
“Every person who worked at the Mavericks, except for me, was terrified of this guy,” Voulgaris said. “[They] wanted to kiss his a** while he was there so they could secure their future.”
Voulgaris speaks on Doncic’s diet
Doncic has managed to become one of the NBA’s top players. Despite that, Mavericks GM Nico Harrison (among others) was fixated on Doncic’s physical shape and eating habits.
Reporter: “Reports said Luka Doncic was 270 lbs. What’s the heaviest you’ve been, maybe in the off-season?”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 17, 2025
Anthony Edwards: “240. I hope they ain’t trade me when I was 240.” 😂
(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/cUwS9Jt0rn
Voulgaris shared an anecdote about Doncic during his rookie season, recounting that he wore a sauna jacket to practice in order to lose weight, but later filled a thermos with either sweet tea or lemonade.
“He doesn’t take his conditioning seriously, he doesn’t take his diet seriously,” Voulgaris said. “This is all true… But it’s like, great, you can correct these things.”
Still, the management in Dallas was not able to get Doncic in the shape they wanted, even as he averaged at least 27 points, at least eight rebounds, and at least eight assists during each of his five seasons after his rookie one.
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