In response to the conditioning rumors, Dončić said it was a “big motive” to prove the Mavericks’ brass wrong this season, and he could get his first chance as soon as Saturday when the Lakers host the Indiana Pacers. It would mark the first game the five-time All-Star has played in since suffering a calf injury on Christmas Day.

Around the NBA, the team’s issues with Luka Doncic’s on and off-the-court habits were known, and Mavs head coach Jason Kidd had shared the concerns with Doncic directly, as well as publicly.