The Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic for a number of reasons, but the main one seems to be their absurd worry over a little matter. Doncic’s love of beer and hookah smoking were two of the main things that Mavs general manager Nico Harrison found objectionable since he thought they were serious character issues.
This is from a recent article published by The Athletic that describes the choices Dallas made and the reasons behind their trade of Luka.
“They mention the social habits that The Athletic has reported on — such as a taste for beer and hookah — which have been a point of concern for NBA types since he was a 19-year-old star for Real Madrid who was entering the draft.”
Because of Doncic’s love of beer and hookah, as well as the general “laziness” that surrounded him, the Mavericks decided to deal away their greatest player and most promising future star because they were worried that he lacked the “Mamba Mentality” that Harrison admired in players.
There is a very real conversation to be had on how athletes are perceived and what is expected of them inside this revelation. It’s possible to elevate players and envision a future in which they never smoke, drink, pray, or take their vitamins, but that’s just a fiction and a fairy tale. It holds professional athletes—especially those who are wealthy enough to enjoy their youth, live fulfilling lives, and travel the world as virtually no one else has—to a standard that no one lives up to.
