Dallas Mavericks: Locker room issues aren’t showing much anymore

When the Dallas Mavericks were losing game after game, the reports immediately went to issues in the locker room, specifically with rookie hazing and issues between DeAndre Jordan and Luka Doncic. Those issues resolved awfully fast.

Welcome back to another episode of “Things that probably didn’t happen” starring the NBA. This time, we talk about the Dallas Mavericks and how the rumors of locker room issues resolved almost immediately after the team started winning again. I know, it sounds pretty crazy.

The fact is, I had my doubts the second the report came out about the Mavs. The source for the supposed issue was a very trusted Mavs writer who has great sources, but having been in the locker room on multiple occasions this season, I just didn’t see it. It seemed more like the issues would be related to miscommunication as opposed to actual frustrations.

One of the reasons I didn’t fully buy into the issues is because of DeAndre Jordan. DJ was willing to talk with the press after almost every single game, often times teasing and pranking the player at the locker next to his, Dorian Finney-Smith. He and Dodo had fun and were constantly laughing and razzing each other.

It never seemed like Jordan was the type of player to seriously haze a young player. Hazing happens in locker rooms throughout all the major sports, but in this case, it didn’t seem like DJ was the type to haze but rather just to tease. And yes, for those who don’t know or don’t believe me, there is definitely a difference between these two things.

The other reason I didn’t honestly believe in any hazing was because Luka Doncic (the player most people seem to think is being hazed thanks to a viral video) is already a seasoned professional from overseas. There is a chance that some veterans from the Mavs didn’t like the fact that a 19-year-old was outplaying them, but that doesn’t seem very likely.

Luka can handle his own out there, too. He knows what it is like playing with grown men, veterans and likely players who weren’t fond of having a kid on the roster. When you talk to Luka after the games, you can tell he is just there to play ball. He never says a word about any issues and he continues to ball out every chance he gets.

Other veterans on the team include Harrison Barnes, Wesley Matthews, Dirk Nowitzki, J.J. Barea and Devin Harris. Wesley Matthews could be involved in some of this possibly but the rest of the guys would not be involved in anything like that. Wes has had some issues of his own and I don’t think he would do it either.

The general feeling in the locker room is that everything is good. A couple of the players haven’t been taking any questions in the locker room after the games, but that does not mean anything is wrong.

The Dallas Mavericks are looking good right now. Even though they lost to the Memphis Grizzlies, they are looking like a solid team going forward and I expect them to get to .500 very soon. Get ready for an exciting season, Mavs fans.