Happy early birthday, Luka Doncic.
The Mavericks 23-year-old superstar will turn 24 Tuesday — or on Wednesday night in Dallas for those keeping Slovenian time — and hopes to celebrate with a victory over the Indiana Pacers and former Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle.
What a perfect backdrop to evaluate how Doncic closed out his Age 23 play.
After the Mavericks’ colossal collapse against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd called out his team’s immaturity and lengthy gripes with officials — a nod toward Doncic without naming him specifically — and Doncic appeared less candid about his shortcomings than he has in the past.
Drama to kick off Age 24? Carlisle-like friction 2.0?
Not if Kidd continues his track record of being the only Mavericks leader who has dared to publicly criticize or challenge the face of the franchise without facing blowback in their relationship and daily rapport.
“My job is to help him be better,” Kidd said Monday after practice. “I don’t know [that] it’s tough love. It’s just being honest and seeing where he can be better, and then also just talking to him about different things that he wants to see or try while the game is going on.
“The line of communication is always open. I think when you look at our relationship, it’s a really healthy and good relationship where he knows I’m trying to help him, one, be accountable and, two, be a leader. He’s only — well, he’ll be 24 tomorrow, but he’s a young 24, so it’s just trying to help him navigate the leadership role and help him be better.”
A refresher for those who missed the Mavericks’ 111-108 loss to the Lakers:
•Doncic started the game shooting 5 of 8 from the floor, tallying 14 points, six rebounds and three assists in the first quarter. From there, he finished the game with as many made baskets (5-of-14 shooting) as he did turnovers (five).
— His barking at officials increased as the Mavericks’ 27-point lead midway through the second quarter evaporated, making Dallas the first to lose in 139 instances an NBA team has led by at least 27 this season..
— Most times Doncic hollered about perceived missed calls or was slow to stand after drawing contact, the Mavericks’ already shorthanded defense further wilted.
— The Mavericks fell to 1-3 with Doncic and Kyrie Irving together, continuing an early trend of struggles with game-winning or tying possessions.
Afterward, Kidd didn’t mask his dissatisfaction with Doncic’s focus and poise during the second-half slide.
“I’m not the savior here,” Kidd said when asked about his decision to call just one timeout during the Mavericks’ minus-11 third quarter. “I’m not playing. I’m watching, just like you guys. As a team, we’ve got to mature, and we’ve got a lot of new bodies coming back, and we’ve got to grow up — if we want to win a championship. There’s no young team that’s ever won a championship, mentally or physically.”
Given that Dallas’ other starters Sunday included 30-year-old Irving, 31-year-old Reggie Bullock, 33-year-old Justin Holiday and 31-year-old Dwight Powell, there’s little doubt birthday-boy-to-be Doncic drew the “young” ire.
“It’s just our maturity,” Kidd said. “Can’t get distracted with the whistle.”
Flashback to Doncic’s first three NBA seasons, when such criticism from head coach Carlisle might’ve led to internal implosion.
The two had a tense relationship amid Carlisle’s controlling style and in-game management. Doncic several times became demonstrative with Carlisle in public view — in the run of play and on the bench.
Slovenian national team coach Aleksander Sekulic also faced similar Doncic outbursts during the prestigious EuroBasket tournament last NBA offseason.
But Kidd hasn’t — despite being the only front-facing Mavericks official who has critiqued Doncic publicly during an era of NBA player empowerment and movement in which teams often fear upsetting a superstar and prompting a trade request.
Irving knows a thing or two about that.
And so does Kidd.
But that hasn’t kept him from challenging Doncic.
Think all the way back to Kidd’s first public comment about Doncic’s frequent complaints to officials on Dec. 3, 2021, after a Mavericks loss to the New Orleans Pelicans Pelicans. Kidd interrupted a reporter’s question about Doncic lobbying for calls to instead chastise him for not hustling on transition defense.
“The officials, they tend not to stop the game to change calls, so you have to understand that,” Kidd said. “There’s a point in time during games, dead balls, to be able to talk to officials. … If we’re lobbying for calls during live play, it puts us in harm’s way.”
Doncic’s response then: “JKidd, he’s got a point, and I’ve got to stop doing that.”
Recall a couple games later, when TNT analyst Reggie Miller said Kidd thanked him for calling out Doncic’s overweight and out-of-shape start to the 2021-22 season during a national TV broadcast.
Doncic’s response then: “I’ve got to be better.”
And, most notably, remember when Kidd responded to the Mavericks’ 0-2 deficit to start the second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns last May by calling out Doncic’s defense.
“It’s not just protecting Luka,” Kidd said. “He’s got to participate. He’s got to play defense. There’s no secret.”
Doncic’s response then: “Horrible by me, and I knew I had to give back to my team and play better defense.”
Doncic wasn’t so eager to answer questions about his demeanor and Kidd’s criticism Sunday.
“It’s probably true,” he said when asked for his reaction to Kidd’s complaint about his complaints. “That’s it.”
You feel like you got distracted?
”I mean, yeah,” Doncic said with a blank expression. “Like I said, it’s probably true.”
What also became true: After the Mavericks’ blunt film session and late-Monday-morning practice, Doncic controlled the facility’s music selection, blasting Serbian pop music which running in a 5-on-5 scrimmage to end the workout.
He goofed off with several staffers, skipped to celebrate a 3-pointer from Maxi Kleber and, yes, even hustled on some scrimmage defense while Kidd looked on.
Agree with Kidd’s coaching in the loss or not, no grudges apparent.
“The film never lies,” Kidd said. “It’s just being honest.”
