01-16-2021, 05:12 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-16-2021, 05:15 PM by KillerLeft.)
(01-16-2021, 04:48 PM)pompelmo Wrote: I think Luka, who has been in a professional environment since his puberty, would know this is a bad look.
You'd think that, but he clearly doesn't. He frequently wears his frustration for things that don't go well on his sleeve, and to confirm this, all one has to do is watch him after literally ANY drive of his that doesn't result in a foul being called on one of the defenders. It's NOT a great look - that much is true.
Having said that, I think it's really, really easy to forget that he's a 21 year old kid. Abundance of professional experience or not, his brain is a 21 year old brain. He's a kid. The end, period. Talent and getting a head start in your profession are GREAT things, but there's just no cutting corners when it comes to certain trials in life.
I read here almost daily that people have expectations for this team based on Luka being "ready" to compete for a championship. The reality is that he's still developing, still growing. I feel like it's a damn safe bet that he'll reach a championship level someday as a star and as a team-leading cornerstone, but he is NOT there yet, and neither are the Mavs. With both the player and the team, I think it's crucial that we all approach the next 2-3 seasons with the mindset that we're watching a young superstar and team DEVELOP themselves into champions.
All of that to say: if this was a 27 year old Luka showing up his coach after the game, and not just a bratty kid who hasn't quite learned the effect his visible emotion has on people and the perceptions it creates, I think we'd have something to worry about here. As it stands today, I don't feel that way at all.