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By Ricardo Sandoval
Contributing Sports Writer
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Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Luka Dončić suffered a left calf contusion on Wednesday during training camp.
Dončić is said to be re-evaluated in a week.
The Athletic's Shams Charania shared the news via Twitter/X.
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Dončić suffered ankle, knee, and chest injuries during Dallas' playoff run last season but didn't miss any games and was active during the summer, playing for the Slovenian national team during an Olympic qualifying tournament.
Dončić's calf injury doesn't appear to be severe at the moment. He has always been available throughout his career, and the hope is that he doesn't miss any time as the regular season looms.
The Mavericks will tip off their preseason against their division rivals, the Memphis Grizzlies, on Oct. 7 at American Airlines Center. They will be home for their first handful of games of the preseason, against the Utah Jazz on Oct. 10 and the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 17.
Dallas will start the regular season against their division rivals, the San Antonio Spurs, at home on Oct. 24. The Mavericks are the favorite to win that game with a -8.5 spread.
However, that could all change if Dončić misses some time on the court. The 25-year-old is heading into his seventh NBA season and is already on a Hall of Fame trajectory. In six seasons, Dončić has recorded 28.7 points per game, 8.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 47 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from three in 400 games.
The Slovenia native is a five-time All-Star, 2023-24 scoring champion, five-time All-NBA, 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year, and 2024 Western Conference Final MVP. The only thing that Dončić is missing is an NBA title.
Dončić and the Mavericks were a couple of wins short from capturing their second NBA title in franchise history last season when the Boston Celtics beat them in five games. Dončić was heavily criticized for his lack of defense and effort in the biggest series he's ever played in.
Coming into the season, he received a lot of criticism for his play style, as many believe he is not a winning player. That remains to be seen, as he has a long career ahead of him and titles in his sights.
This season, the Mavericks enter with the seventh-best odds of winning the 2024-25 title at +1,100. Dončić hopes to be ready once the 82-game marathon tips off in a few weeks.
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