With Tuesday night’s game in the balance, James Harden easily beat Dallas star Luka Dončić one-on-one for a layup to give the Nets a 100-97 lead with 1:23 remaining in the fourth quarter in a game that Brooklyn would go on to win 102-99.
Never known for his defense, Dončić looked a step slower than usual while covering Harden as he did throughout the loss, the fifth consecutive home defeat for the Mavericks.
During the TNT broadcast of the game, analysts Reggie Miller and Kevin Harlan discussed whether Dončić — who measures in at 6-foot-7 and is listed at 230 pounds on NBA.com — was in good enough shape to play his best ball.
Miller, who was one of the thinnest players in the NBA during his playing days, noted Dončić “has got to trim down.”
“To me, looking at him, this is the heaviest I’ve probably ever seen Luka look, right now,” Miller said on the TNT broadcast. “I know he’s had a long year with the Olympics, but look how he’s plodding up and down. He’s not really running.”
Miller was referencing Dončić, who notched 28 points, six rebounds and nine assists in Tuesday’s loss, almost singlehandedly leading Slovenia to a fourth-place finish in the Summer Games in Tokyo.
“We’ve done a couple of these Mavs games and when you’re around the team what you hear is he’s worn out,” Harlan added. “My eyes tell me he’s a little heavier.”
Dončić, who is averaging 25.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game this year, addressed the concerns about his weight after the game. “People are going to talk about it, yes or no,” he said. “But I know I’ve got to do better. I had a long summer. I had the Olympics, took three weeks off, and relaxed a little bit. Maybe too much. I’ve just got to get back on track.”
It is far from the first time Dončić has had to address concerns about his weight. “I mean, people on Twitter say every stuff,” he said about the topic last year. “But, it’s true I’m not in my best shape. I will get there for sure. But, you know, I’ve never been a muscular guy, so what can I say?”
The Mavericks are 11-12 on the season and 0-4 in games when Dončić does not play. A first-team All-NBA selection the past two years who missed a total of 11 games during the 2019-20 season due to right ankle sprains, Dončić is unquestionably his team’s best player, whether he’s 230 pounds or 260 pounds.
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