New coach Jason Kidd and the Mavericks are 27 games into an effort to clear three seasons worth of dysfunction, disillusionment and blowups that cracked the foundation of a franchise built around a superstar who has yet to win a playoff series. “It wasn’t really about how Rick treated Luka,” a Mavs player on the 2018-19 team said. “Luka hated how Rick treated other people.”
Source: Tim MacMahon @ ESPN
Source: Tim MacMahon @ ESPN
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
![Michael C. Wright](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1470772338362888202/W6ccckn1_normal.jpg)
Michael C. Wright @mikecwright
Got even more respect for Luka Doncic now. Kept his mouth shut and kept on truckin. Karma always eventually catches up to folks who treat people badly. – 1:47 PM
Got even more respect for Luka Doncic now. Kept his mouth shut and kept on truckin. Karma always eventually catches up to folks who treat people badly. – 1:47 PM
![Callie Caplan](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1445614622682144768/YGBbHu3I_normal.jpg)
Callie Caplan @CallieCaplan
Ex-Mav Dennis Smith Jr. lauds @Tim MacMahon‘s report on the relationship and conflict between Luka Doncic and Rick Carlisle:
More on DSJ: dallasnews.com/sports/maveric…
More from ESPN: espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 12:26 PM
Ex-Mav Dennis Smith Jr. lauds @Tim MacMahon‘s report on the relationship and conflict between Luka Doncic and Rick Carlisle:
More on DSJ: dallasnews.com/sports/maveric…
More from ESPN: espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 12:26 PM
![Kurt Helin](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/665396722/images_normal.jpg)
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
New report details growing friction between Doncic, Carlisle that led to Mavs shakeup nba.nbcsports.com/2021/12/15/new… – 11:33 AM
New report details growing friction between Doncic, Carlisle that led to Mavs shakeup nba.nbcsports.com/2021/12/15/new… – 11:33 AM
![Eric Walden](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1451226933514043393/v4MYQXIA_normal.jpg)
Eric Walden @tribjazz
This great read from @Tim MacMahon on the Mavs’ dysfunction is filled with all sorts of intriguing tidbits, including Rick Carlisle trying to blow up the Luka Doncic-Dennis Smith friendship cuz he was pissed the team drafted Smith over Donovan Mitchell. espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 10:09 AM
This great read from @Tim MacMahon on the Mavs’ dysfunction is filled with all sorts of intriguing tidbits, including Rick Carlisle trying to blow up the Luka Doncic-Dennis Smith friendship cuz he was pissed the team drafted Smith over Donovan Mitchell. espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 10:09 AM
![Tim MacMahon](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1044985229797203968/smJZMMQn_normal.jpg)
Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
The details leading up to the divorce with Rick Carlisle that Luka Doncic didn’t ask for but desperately wanted: espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 8:31 AM
The details leading up to the divorce with Rick Carlisle that Luka Doncic didn’t ask for but desperately wanted: espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 8:31 AM
![Callie Caplan](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1445614622682144768/YGBbHu3I_normal.jpg)
Callie Caplan @CallieCaplan
Before Mavs-Lakers, Jared Dudley has better superstar perspective than anyone as a LeBron teammate-turned-Luka assistant coach.
Q&A with @Jared Dudley about Luka-LeBron similarities, where Luka can improve most and his first 1/3 of a season coaching: dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 4:31 PM
Before Mavs-Lakers, Jared Dudley has better superstar perspective than anyone as a LeBron teammate-turned-Luka assistant coach.
Q&A with @Jared Dudley about Luka-LeBron similarities, where Luka can improve most and his first 1/3 of a season coaching: dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 4:31 PM
![Chuck Cooperstein](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/889194526170124291/LIbu87re_normal.jpg)
Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
Injuries and H&S protocols the story leading up to Mavs-Lakers tomorrow night. Luka to miss his 3rd straight to rest his ankle. The Lakers Talen Horton-Tucker has entered the protocol as the team canceled practice today. 6:45 tip tomorrow night @theeagledallas – 3:41 PM
Injuries and H&S protocols the story leading up to Mavs-Lakers tomorrow night. Luka to miss his 3rd straight to rest his ankle. The Lakers Talen Horton-Tucker has entered the protocol as the team canceled practice today. 6:45 tip tomorrow night @theeagledallas – 3:41 PM
![Eddie Sefko](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1658131473/sefko_normal.png)
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Luka Doncic ruled out against LeBron and the Lakers in Wednesday’s national TV game.
mavs.com/ld-out-for-thi… – 3:30 PM
Luka Doncic ruled out against LeBron and the Lakers in Wednesday’s national TV game.
mavs.com/ld-out-for-thi… – 3:30 PM
![Callie Caplan](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1445614622682144768/YGBbHu3I_normal.jpg)
Callie Caplan @CallieCaplan
No Luka Doncic vs. LeBron James, again: dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 2:45 PM
No Luka Doncic vs. LeBron James, again: dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 2:45 PM
![Tim MacMahon](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1044985229797203968/smJZMMQn_normal.jpg)
Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Mavs announce that Luka Doncic will miss third straight game due to left ankle soreness. Mavs are 2-4 without Doncic this season after back-to-back wins over Thunder and Hornets. – 2:17 PM
Mavs announce that Luka Doncic will miss third straight game due to left ankle soreness. Mavs are 2-4 without Doncic this season after back-to-back wins over Thunder and Hornets. – 2:17 PM
![Marc J. Spears](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1443719622885216257/fpIXgpqH_normal.jpg)
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
Mavs say Luka Dončić (left ankle soreness) will be out tomorrow against the Lakers. – 2:16 PM
Mavs say Luka Dončić (left ankle soreness) will be out tomorrow against the Lakers. – 2:16 PM
![Marc Stein](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1425561963971584000/HUbK0Y2i_normal.jpg)
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
While the status of Luka Dončić (left ankle soreness) remains TBD after he has missed the Mavericks’ past two games, the Dallas-bound Lakers have their own long list of health concerns entering Wednesday’s game: pic.twitter.com/bSt8a9zsvH – 1:54 PM
While the status of Luka Dončić (left ankle soreness) remains TBD after he has missed the Mavericks’ past two games, the Dallas-bound Lakers have their own long list of health concerns entering Wednesday’s game: pic.twitter.com/bSt8a9zsvH – 1:54 PM
![https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FGlvWWxWUAY9_HY.jpg](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FGlvWWxWUAY9_HY.jpg)
More on this storyline
Tim MacMahon: The details leading up to the divorce with Rick Carlisle that Luka Doncic didn’t ask for but desperately wanted. Dennis Smith Jr.: This article about my time there is spot on. And that’s coming from staff members n players! Y’all don’t even know the half. -via Twitter @Dennis1SmithJr / December 15, 2021
Seven months later, Smith was traded to the New York Knicks, an afterthought in a deal that brought Kristaps Porzingis midway through Doncic’s rookie season. It might not have been a basketball fit, but Doncic and Smith had formed a bond. And Carlisle’s apparent determination to make Smith miserable during their brief time as teammates was appalling to Doncic, several former players and staffers told ESPN. -via ESPN / December 15, 2021
Multiple players were shocked during one early-season team meeting when Carlisle accused Smith of being jealous of Doncic, sources said. The players considered it incredibly unfair to Smith, who wasn’t playing well but was making an honest effort to mesh with Doncic on the court. Doncic particularly resented what he perceived as Carlisle’s attempt to pit him against his friend and teammate, team sources said. -via ESPN / December 15, 2021