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Luka admits that his conditioning needs to improve.
Luka Doncic acknowledges that he needs to get his conditioning back on track after an injury-plagued start to the season. (0:22)
11:41 PM
Luka Doncic acknowledged that his conditioning needs to be better.
On Tuesday night, the Mavs' loss to the Brooklyn Nets was broadcasted by the network. Reggie Miller, a Hall of Fame shooting guard, criticized Doncic, saying he was "plodding up and down the court" and "has got to trim down."
"People are going to talk about it, yes or no," said Doncic, who had 28 points, six rebound and nine assists in the loss. I know I have to do better.
Sources told ESPN that Doncic weighed more than 260 pounds for the second year in a row. His weight is listed as 230 pounds.
"I had a long summer, I joined the national team days after Dallas was eliminated from the playoffs, and we finished fourth in the Olympics," Doncic said. I took three weeks off after the Olympics, and I relaxed a bit. Maybe too much. I need to get back on track.
A two-time first-team All-NBA selection, Doncic, 22, is averaging 25.5 points, 7.9 rebound and 8.5 assists for the Dallas Mavericks. Doncic's shooting percentage from the field is down from the previous two seasons, but those are still impressive statistics.
The ankle and knee injuries that Doncic sustained recently interrupted his efforts to improve his conditioning, and caused him to miss three games at the beginning of the Mavs' current 2-8 stretch. He missed Saturday's loss to Memphis because of a sore left ankle and the Mavs listed a thumb injury on his injury report.
The Mavs are 0-4 in games that Doncic has missed.
"It's still painful, but I try to play and practice," Doncic said. It's still very painful.
