Mark Cuban on Luka Doncic's recent form: 'He didn't like being called out for his weight' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez Credit AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban attributed Luka Doncic's recent performances in part to the 22-year-old superstar's reaction to criticism regarding his conditioning early in the season.

Luka Doncic

Team:Dallas MavericksPosition:SGAge:22Height:201 cmWeight:99 kgBirth place:SloveniaProfileNewsStatistics

Doncic acknowledged in early December that his conditioning needed to "get back on track," saying he relaxed "maybe too much" in the weeks between Slovenia's Olympics run and reporting to Dallas for training camp. "I think he was humbled a little bit," Cuban said Tuesday during an appearance on 1310 The Ticket in Dallas. "I think he didn't like being called out for his weight and other things, and it finally clicked that there's a level of discipline that's required."

Since a somewhat slow start to his fourth NBA season, Luka Doncic has incorporated more cardio and weight training into his routine so he can handle increased playing time and responsibilities.

The Slovenian star has said he prefers "chicken and rice and vegetables because I don’t eat a lot of seafood," adding that "eating healthier was the key to be here."

Doncic has since dropped more than 7 kilos, according to sources, to get close to his rookie weight."All athletes at his level go through it at some level, where things are just easy and you're always used to being the best and you're always used to getting all the accolades," Cuban went on to say.

"Then when something doesn't go according to expected, it makes you reconsider."

In his first 21 games of the season, Doncic averaged 25.6 points, 8 rebounds and 8.5 assists, albeit with a lackluster defensive performance. He then rested three weeks to recover from a sprained right ankle that he had aggravated multiple times and worked on his conditioning.In the 23 games since the layoff, he has averaged 29.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 9.4 assists.

Cuban believes that Doncic "knows what he needs to do, and it finally clicked that if he's going to be the best -and I know he wants to be the best- that there are certain things he has to control.

Once he got a handle on those things, it's just been 'Katie, bar the door.' He's just been unstoppable."

A two-time first-team All-NBA selection who just played in his third All-Star Game, Doncic has averaged 35.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 9.8 assists in 10 games since it was revealed that he received zero media votes to be an All-Star starter.

Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.