Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic missed the fewest games of his career this regular season — just six here-and-there absences for nagging injuries and rest while many NBA players grappled with long-term separations for COVID-19.
Perhaps that’s because Doncic had already — and unknowingly — contracted the coronavirus.
In an interview Tuesday on Sportsradio 96.7FM/1310 The Ticket, Doncic said he has had COVID-19 during the pandemic, which hadn’t previously been reported.
“But I never felt it,” Doncic said. “I just have the antibodies.”
Doncic has not entered the NBA’s health and safety protocol this season despite the Mavericks leading the league with seven players who combined to miss 56 games for positive cases, close contacts or personal leave from the team.
The 22-year-old All-Star has been part of the daily testing regime the NBA required while holding its season in home markets, rather than in a quarantined bubble.
”Every single day, twice,” Doncic said. “I am very tired.”
But extra precautions won’t stop Doncic from competing even after the Mavericks’ playoff run concludes.
Doncic said in the radio interview he plans to play for the Slovenian national team in the FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania.
If the Mavericks’ playoff run ends in time, Slovenia will compete from June 29 to July 4 against Poland, Angola, Lithuania, South Korea and Venezuela. Should Slovenia win the six-team tournament — one of four to determine the last four Olympic qualifiers — Doncic said he will play in the rescheduled Olympics this summer.
“Not a lot of time off and not a lot of individual work,” Doncic said when asked what he’ll focus on improving in his game this offseason. “So let’s just see how we finish the season first.”
