Report: Inside The Luka Doncic/Rick Carlisle Feud That Led To Carlisle's End in Dallas

 

An ESPN report has surfaced, detailing the ugly relationship that former head coach Rick Carlisle had with Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic—and others. 

Tim MacMahon reports that Carlisle did everything in his power to sour the burgeoning friendship that Doncic and his backcourt mate Dennis Smith Jr. had developed in Luka's rookie year of 2018. 

And Smith Jr. himself has come out to confirm all the sordid details. 

This article about my time there is spot on. And that’s coming from staff members n players! Y’all don’t even know the half. https://t.co/9gh2DI4xPu

— Dennis Smith Jr. (@Dennis1SmithJr) December 15, 2021

The story details Carlisle's distaste for Smith Jr., and his intention to "blow up" the team's new backcourt tandem, eventually leading to the trade of Smith midway through Doncic's rookie season. 

Doncic and Smith had formed a close bond off the court, and Carlisle's "determination to make Smith miserable during their brief time as teammates was appalling to Doncic," reads the report. 

Carlisle apparently tried to pit Doncic against Smith, by, amongst other things, accusing Smith of being jealous of Luka, in the middle of a team meeting. 

"It wasn't really about how Rick treated Luka," one Mavs player under Carlisle told MacMahon. "Luka hated how Rick treated other people."

The article is littered with similar such stories and anecdotes about Carlisle involving others as well. 

Carlisle is in the midst of a chaotic first season with the Indiana Pacers, who are apparently ready to "blow things up" (sound familiar?) in order  to rebuild. 

Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports