Luka Doncic returned to the Dallas Mavericks’ practice on Wednesday, marking his first on-court session since suffering a left calf contusion two weeks ago. However, it remains unlikely that he will participate in the upcoming preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.
Head coach Jason Kidd praised Doncic’s progress, stating that the star forward did “really, really well” during practice. An MRI conducted earlier revealed no significant damage, leading the Mavericks to prescribe a week of rest before allowing Doncic to resume training activities.
The Mavericks are set to kick off their regular season next week, with their opener against the San Antonio Spurs scheduled for October 24. If Doncic does not play against the Bucks, it would mean that the season opener against the Spurs could be the first time he shares the court with fellow stars Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson.
Thompson, 34, has been managing back tightness during the preseason and has had a slow shooting start, including a challenging 0-for-9 performance against the Clippers earlier this week. After signing a three-year, $50 million contract during the offseason, the Mavericks view Thompson as a vital component of their plans following their run to the Western Conference Finals.
Doncic, a five-time First-Team All-NBA selection, has consistently impressed in his career, averaging 28.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists across 400 regular-season games. In the 2023-24 season, he led the league in scoring with an average of 33.9 points per game, while also achieving career highs in assists (9.8) and rebounds (9.2). Despite his injury challenges, Doncic played 22 postseason games, averaging 28.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists while logging an impressive 40.9 minutes per game.
As the Mavericks prepare for their regular-season opener, fans will be watching closely to see if Doncic can return to full form and reunite with his star teammates on the court.
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