Luka Doncic's Trainer Clarifies Comment He Made on Mavs Star Being Out of Shape

As the Dallas Mavericks prepare for the NBA to resume, Luka Doncic's trainer wants to make clear the star guard is ready to play, contrary to previous reports. 

Tim Cato of The Athletic reached out to Doncic's Slovenian trainer, Jure Drakslar, who claims his previous comments were mistranslated. 

"Originally my sentence in the interview was 'Luka is not in top game shape yet,'" Drakslar told Cato. "And 'game' is the word that was missed out here during translation of some international media right now." 

Drakslar added Doncic is in good physical shape and has been practicing hard every day. 

The trainer originally gave the quote to the Russian publication RIA Novosti, and it was apparently translated through multiple sites before making its way to the Dallas Morning News. 

Doncic returned to his native Slovenia shortly after the NBA went on hiatus March 11. The Mavericks were in seventh place in the Western Conference at the time and will challenge for a playoff spot once the league resumes the season with 21 other clubs in Orlando, Florida, come late July.

What does have Drakslar concerned, however, is that Doncic hasn't faced NBA-level talent since the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold across the globe. 

"It's impossible to be in top game shape because there are no games and there is no difference with all the NBA players at this moment," Drakslar told Cato. 

Last season's Rookie of the Year has already seen his stats jump up in his sophomore season. After averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and six assists in 2018-19, Doncic entered the hiatus posting 28.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game. 

The Mavs will need him to maintain that level of play if they hope to make a run for a title this postseason. Fortunately, very few players have access to NBA talent to practice with during the break. Doncic is certainly in the majority there.