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        <title><![CDATA[Luka Doncic has an enemy in Mavericks front office — and it’s causing drama]]></title>
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<p>There is drama in Dallas. </p>



<p>After a first-round playoff elimination to the Clippers, Mavericks star Luka Doncic reportedly does not see eye-to-eye with the the team&#8217;s front office. </p>



<p><strong>The Athletic</strong> reported there are apparent concerns in Dallas over Doncic&#8217;s abysmal relationships with &#8220;key members of the team&#8221; — one being Haralabos Voulgaris, the Mavericks’ director of quantitative research and development, whose connection with the franchise face is seemingly strained. </p>



<p>Doncic, though, &#8220;has a healthy relationship with the Mavericks organization at large,&#8221; according to the report.</p>



<p>While the 22-year-old intends to sign a super-max contract extension in Dallas (worth more than $200 million over five seasons), he&#8217;s wary about his long-term future, sources told the website.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img  data-src="/uploads/2021/06/14/luka-doncic-has-an-enemy-in-mavericks-front-office-and-it-s-causing-drama-0.jpg" /><figcaption>Mak Cuban and Luka Doncic on June 2, 2021</figcaption><figcaption><span class="credit">NBAE via Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure>



<p>“Mark Cuban is the most powerful person in the organization,” one team source said. &#8220;But whoever he’s listening to is second.”</p>



<p>Voulgaris is<em> that </em>second person, according to The Athletic, noting that the majority of front office decisions in Dallas &#8212; including at times lineups and rotations &#8212; went through him. </p>



<p>Cuban called the report &#8220;total bulls&#8211;t&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1404487874695806982?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on Twitter.</a> He also commented on Voulgaris in the story. </p>


<p>“I really like what Bob brings to the table. He does a great job of supporting [coach] Rick  [Carlisle] and the front office with unique data insights,&#8221; the &#8220;Shark Tank&#8221; star told The Athletic. </p>



<p>Voulgaris declined to comment on the report. </p>



<p>Cuban continued to pour cold water on the report Monday afternoon.</p>



<p>“I pay close attention to what Luka says, what the front office, analytics group and our scouts say. What Rick says. The idea that there is a shadow GM is laughable. The idea that anyone but Rick sets rotations is insulting,&#8221; Cuban told <a href="https://twitter.com/TaylorRooks/status/1404519827436343304" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bleacher Report&#8217;s Taylor Rooks</a>.</p>



<p>The reported rift began sometime in February when Doncic clapped back at Voulgaris for a court-side reaction after a turnover, multiple team and league sources told The Athletic. </p>



<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t f&#8211;king tell me to calm down,&#8221; Doncic said, according to a source&#8217;s recollection of the heated moment.   </p>



<p>Voulgaris later said his reaction wasn&#8217;t meant to single out Doncic, however, the event &#8220;only worsened an already inflamed relationship between the two.&#8221;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img  data-src="/uploads/2021/06/14/luka-doncic-has-an-enemy-in-mavericks-front-office-and-it-s-causing-drama-1.jpg" /><figcaption>Luka Doncic on Dec. 12, 2020</figcaption><figcaption><span class="credit">NBAE via Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure>



<p>Following the February drama, Doncic reportedly told teammates in April Voulgaris was &#8220;quitting on them&#8221; after the exec&#8217;s early exit during a loss to the Knicks.</p>



<p>Following the Mavericks&#8217; first-round playoff elimination, Cuban said he would not make a coaching change. Dallas intends to bring back Carlisle for a 14th season.</p>



<p>Doncic, the 2018-19 NBA Rookie of the Year, finished this past season averaging 27.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.0 steals and .5 blocks per game. </p>







<p>The Slovenian star finished sixth in MVP voting. </p>



<p>Doncic is eligible to sign a super-max extension with Dallas on Aug. 6. </p>
			 
					
									<p>This story originally appeared on: <strong>NyPost</strong> - Author:<strong>Jenna Lemoncelli</strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jenna Lemoncelli]]></dc:creator>
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