Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is facing significant criticism following his disappointing defeat in the finals. Given Doncic’s outstanding season, the quick loss in just five games has left many deeply dissatisfied. There has been a notable shift in how analysts and fans view Doncic’s reputation, including Skip Bayless, who has been vocal about his disappointment.
Despite supporting Luka Doncic throughout the season, including during the finals where the team lost the first three games, Skip Bayless’ reaction was understandably strong due to his high expectations for the player. On a recent episode of Undisputed, Bayless expressed his frustration with Doncic, even going so far as to say that he has lost respect for him.
I lost respect for Luka after gaining so much this year throughout the regular season. He has been a terrible shooter for years. But last offseason, he went to a lab and returned drastically improved.
.@RealSkipBayless lost respect for Luka Dončić in the NBA Finals despite leading in points, assists and rebounds 👀 pic.twitter.com/H73JckCIdX
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) June 18, 2024
Bayless confessed that over the past five years, he hadn’t been a strong supporter of Doncic. The analyst openly criticized Doncic’s shooting abilities, free throw performance, and the comparisons to Larry Bird, often even laughing off these aspects. However, Bayless’ perception shifted during the regular season when Doncic demonstrated significant improvement.
Unfortunately, this newfound appreciation didn’t endure, especially due to Doncic’s struggles with three-point shooting in the playoffs. This downturn in performance during a critical period was the turning point for Bayless, leading him to lose respect for the star player.
Skip Bayless supported the Mavericks despite the 0-3 deficit
The Dallas Mavericks’ path to the finals as the fifth seed in the competitive Western Conference was undeniably impressive. This achievement raised expectations significantly, especially for Luka Doncic, who was making his first finals appearance. However, the team faced disappointment with three consecutive losses, dashing their hopes of clinching the championship.
Despite the setbacks, Skip Bayless maintained his belief in the team. He pointed out that the Mavericks often outperformed the Celtics in the fourth quarter. However, Bayless highlighted a critical issue: the team’s inability to finish games effectively, which ultimately cost them dearly.
I’ve now watched back-to-back games in which the Mavericks made significant runs at you in the fourth quarter but fell short, which is why the score is 3-0.
.@RealSkipBayless has the Mavs avoiding the sweep with a Game 4 win: pic.twitter.com/QmZTlWyU5w
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) June 14, 2024
Bayless confidently predicted that while the Mavericks might not win the series, they would certainly win the fourth game. His prediction proved accurate as the team rallied from their struggles in earlier games, particularly in the first half, to dominate the Celtics and secure a significant victory in a historic manner.
However, Bayless was disappointed to see that this triumph was the only win the Mavericks managed to secure in the series.
