Since Luka Dončić’s shocking trade to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, the Dallas Mavericks have faced backlash — not just for the trade itself but for the harsh narratives that followed. Reports emerged labeling Dončić as overweight, out of shape, a poor leader, and even portraying him as someone more interested in beer and hookah than basketball. However, several of Dončić’s former Mavericks teammates aren’t staying silent, stepping up to defend him.
One of the first to speak out was Quentin Grimes, who dismissed the negative stories as nothing more than a bad narrative from the team. Soon after, other voices joined him.
Three-time Maverick and current Charlotte Hornets guard Seth Curry praised Dončić’s work ethic in an interview with The Sporting News.
“From my vantage point, you knew what you were going to get from Luka,” Curry explained. “Practice, games — when the ball went up, you knew he’d show up and be ready to play when he was healthy. I didn’t see any issues, really. He’s a great competitor. One of the best I’ve ever played with.”
Josh Green, now Curry’s teammate in Charlotte and part of last year’s Mavericks squad that reached the NBA Finals, echoed those sentiments.
“He’s played World Cups, Olympics, back-to-back-to-back years. You have to be in pretty good shape to handle that,” Green said. “For someone to be 24 years old and lead a team to the Finals — that’s impressive. The last two years, he really grew as a leader, and the guys followed him.”
The Mavericks’ attempts to shift blame after trading away their franchise star have been widely criticized. Many NBA players and analysts alike have slammed the team’s handling of the situation, with some calling the trade one of the worst decisions in recent league history.
One thing is clear — Dončić’s former teammates aren’t buying the negative spin. They’ve made it clear they still believe in his talent, leadership, and dedication to the game.
