The 2024 NBA Finals haven’t been kind to Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic.
Doncic looked fairly lethargic in Games 1 and 2 against the Boston Celtics and fouled out with four minutes left in a winnable Game 3. He was publicly panned after his play, particularly by ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst, but led the Mavs to a Game 4 win and then a final loss in Game 5 on Monday night.
Doncic wasn’t able to bring home the second title in Mavericks franchise history to Dallas, but he made NBA history in the process.
Doncic averaged league-best 28.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.9 steals in 40.9 minutes per game over 22 postseason games this season, becoming the first player in NBA history to finish a postseason leading the league in all four statistical categories.
Regardless of the outcome, Luka Doncic put up big numbers in the playoffs 🙌 pic.twitter.com/nZp2vdAmQZ
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 18, 2024
Doncic accomplished these feats while seemingly battling nagging injuries throughout the playoffs: He never missed a game but was often listed on the team’s pregame injury report.
“It doesn’t matter if I was hurt or how badly I was hurt,” Doncic said Monday night after Game 5. “I tried to go out there and play and I just wasn’t good enough.”
Doncic and the Mavericks will be looking to repeat that pattern next season as every member of their 2023-24 playoff team is under contract beyond that season, with the exception of forwards Derrick Jones Jr. and Markieff Morris.
“It feels great,” Doncic said of the Mavericks’ future. “We did something great. [personnel] The movement is great. I can say that we’ve been together for five months. I’m proud of all the players who took the court, all the coaches, and all the people who support the team. [the scenes].
“Obviously we didn’t win the final, but it was a great season.”
