Luka Dončić Praised by Mavs GM: You'll See His 'Best Version' After NBA Finals Loss
Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison is confident that superstar Luka Dončić will continue to improve following a loss to the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals.
"He's 25 years old," Harrison said on Friday, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "I think just going through the Finals, him seeing what he needs to do to be at his best in the Finals after going through a grueling end of the year and then three tough, tough [playoff] matchups, I think you're going to see the best version of him."
Despite a five-game series loss to the Celtics, the Mavericks still wrapped up an impressive playoff run by emerging from the West as the No. 5 seed. Dončić was the driving force behind the postseason success, winning MVP of the Western Conference Finals.
Due to their status as the No. 5 seed, the Mavericks faced extremely tough opponents in all three of their playoff series wins. Dallas defeated the 51-win Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, took down the 57-win Oklahoma City Thunder in six games during the second round, then won a five-game series over the 56-win Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference finals.
While Dončić didn't attempt as many shots each night in the postseason compared to the Mavericks' prior playoff runs, he still remained effective while playing alongside an improved supporting cast led by Kyrie Irving and P.J. Washington.
In 22 playoff games in 2024, the former No. 3 overall pick averaged 28.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game on 44.6/32.2/76.5 shooting splits. His efficiency eventually started to dip as he was hampered by ankle, knee, and chest injuries throughout the postseason.
"He was hurting, but he's a warrior," Harrison said, per MacMahon. "He's going to fight through all those injuries. That's just who he is. He loves to play."
Despite his current level of stellar play, it's not unrealistic to expect Dončić to step up even further next year. His scoring average has improved in each of his past four seasons, capped off by a 2023-24 campaign in which he averaged 33.9 points each night and became the first player in Mavericks franchise history to win a scoring title.
Despite an unceremonious exit in the finals, Dallas' front office is clearly confident in Dončić as the team attempts to go on another playoff run in 2025.
