Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić is expected to be out for approximately a month before his strained left calf is re-evaluated, according to a source familiar with the situation. The injury occurred during a Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Dončić underwent an MRI on the injury, but specific details have not been disclosed. The 25-year-old’s extended absence could jeopardize his eligibility for major awards, including MVP, this season. Dončić has already missed eight games this year, five of them due to a sprained right wrist. The calf injury happened late in the second quarter of the Mavericks’ 105-99 loss on Wednesday, forcing Dončić to leave the game and head to the locker room limping after a timeout.
The Mavericks, reigning Western Conference champions, have 17 games scheduled over the next month, starting Friday night in Phoenix. Dončić currently ranks sixth in the NBA in scoring, averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. However, missing 25 games this season would disqualify him from major awards due to the NBA’s 15-game absence limit. The most games he has missed in a season so far is 17, back in 2021-22 before the current rule was implemented.
This setback comes just two games after Dončić returned from missing two contests with a left heel contusion. He has a history of left calf issues, including missing parts of the last two preseasons and the first three games of the 2022 playoffs.
Despite Dončić’s absence, the Mavericks have a 6-2 record without him this season, largely thanks to his backcourt partner Kyrie Irving, who has been averaging 24 points per game in Dončić’s absence.
Dallas also bolstered its roster in the offseason with the addition of four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson from Golden State. Thompson’s sharpshooting has been critical in helping the team stay competitive without Dončić.
Spencer Dinwiddie, a key player in the Mavericks’ surprising 2022 Western Conference Finals run, has returned to Dallas and will take on increased minutes during Dončić’s recovery.
Additionally, Naji Marshall, another offseason acquisition, has stepped up in Dončić’s absence, scoring 20 or more points in the first four games Dončić missed due to his wrist injury. Though Marshall missed five games due to illness, he has played in the last four games and is expected to contribute significantly.
