Mavericks news: Luka Doncic named most confident, Spencer Dinwiddie earns bonus, more

Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic is a special talent that is the engine for his team. The Mavs fell to 0-6 without Doncic on Saturday night as they lost to the Jazz. Doncic is sidelined with a left ankle sprain, but he is expected to return by Thursday night.

J.J. Redick discussed one of the many things that make Luka special on his podcast The Old Man and the Three this week. They talked about how Doncic has this incredible confidence that makes every moment easier on his teammates. Fans can hear the discussion below, which features plenty of talk about Benglas quarterback Joe Burrow, and how the two players are similar.

Luka Doncic is unflappable, and he always believes he is going to make the next play. It is one of the many things that makes him unique, and Redick is clearly a massive fan of number 77.

More Mavericks news

Spencer Dinwiddie played in his 50th game of the season on Saturday night, which triggered a $1.5 million bonus in his contract. It also guaranteed his salary for the 2023-2024 season at $18.85 million per Bobby Marks.

Maxi Kleber celebrates his 31st birthday on Jan. 29. Happy Birthday, Maxi, and hopefully, he makes a speedy recovery from his torn hamstring and is back in the lineup. He wants to play before the All-Star break, but stay tuned for the latest updates on his injury.

NBA news

Dallas-native Myles Turner reached a two-year $60 million extension with the Pacers on Saturday. He is now signed through the 2024-2025 season, and it appears he will stay in Indiana beyond the trade deadline.

Joel Embiid dominated the battle of MVP candidates on Jan. 28 as his Sixers topped the Nuggets 126-119. Embiid produced 47 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks in the contest as reigning two-time MVP Nikola Jokic had 24-8-9.

There was plenty of controversy at the end of the Lakers and Celtics game on Saturday night. The referees missed a late-game foul on LeBron James that potentially would have allowed Los Angeles to win in regulation. Instead, the Celtics picked up a 125-121 overtime victory.

The Dallas Mavericks are back in action on Monday night against the Detroit Pistons at the American Airlines Center. Will Luka Doncic return from his ankle sprain? The team will likely give him one more game to rest before he returns on Thursday night, but stay tuned for official word.