How Luka Doncic's strenuous relationship with ex-coach Rick Carlisle led to divide in Mavericks locker room

Carlisle and Doncic appeared to never have a great relationship

One of the bigger bombshells this past offseason was when Dallas Mavericks' longtime head coach Rick Carlisle stepped down from his role after 13 seasons and one championship with the team. That move followed the announcement that the franchise parted ways with general manager Donnie Nelson, who had been with Dallas for 24 years. It was fallout from an explosive article that detailed several years of dysfunction within the organization since the team drafted franchise centerpiece Luka Doncic third overall in 2018. 

While there was no clear reason to point to as to why Carlisle stepped down, there were reports over the summer of "simmering tension" between the coach and Doncic. But it appears simmering tension was just an understatement for their relationship, as ESPN's Tim MacMahon reports that since Doncic was drafted, his relationship with Carlisle was never in a great place. 

The earliest example of Doncic's relationship with Carlisle hitting a rough patch reportedly came in his rookie season when the Mavericks were trying to make a backcourt work between Doncic and Dennis Smith Jr., who Dallas drafted No. 9 overall a year prior to Doncic, despite it being a questionable pairing from the start. 

"It might not have been a basketball fit, but Doncic and Smith had formed a bond. And Carlisle's apparent determination to make Smith miserable during their brief time as teammates was appalling to Doncic, several former players and staffers told ESPN.

Multiple players were shocked during one early-season team meeting when Carlisle accused Smith of being jealous of Doncic, sources said. The players considered it incredibly unfair to Smith, who wasn't playing well but was making an honest effort to mesh with Doncic on the court.

Doncic particularly resented what he perceived as Carlisle's attempt to pit him against his friend and teammate, team sources said."

Eventually, Carlisle shipped Smith off to the New York Knicks as part of the deal that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas.

One former Mavericks player who was on the 2018-19 team commented on Doncic and Carlisle's relationship. "It wasn't really about how Rick treated Luka. Luka hated how Rick treated other people." 

In the years that followed since then, Doncic began to question Carlisle's authority on several occasions. Yet Doncic wasn't the only player Carlisle had a rocky relationship with during his time with the Mavericks. Porzingis reportedly wanted to be traded this past summer after he was relegated to the corner in the playoffs as a spot-up shooter, which was Carlisle's decision. 

While Carlisle's relationship with his players apparently deteriorated, assistant coach Jamahl Mosley became the bridge between the head coach and the players.

"Mosley developed an especially close bond with Doncic. But over the next few years Carlisle came to consider Mosley a threat, team sources said, believing that Mosley was attempting to position himself to take Carlisle's job." 

Mosley ended up becoming the head coach of the Orlando Magic, and despite all the reported issues with Carlisle and his players, MacMahon reports that the Mavericks originally intended to bring him back for the 2021-22 season. However, when Carlisle approached owner Mark Cuban about a potential contract extension this past summer and was denied, the head coach sensed his job was in jeopardy and decided to leave. Shortly after that he landed the Indiana Pacers' head-coaching gig.

After Carlisle left, the Mavericks brought in Jason Kidd to be the next head coach, who MacMahon reports was the only candidate seriously considered. Since Kidd's taken over, the Mavericks (14-13) have gotten out to another slow start to the season, with a pedestrian offense that ranks 17th in the league. That's a far cry from the eighth-ranked offense Dallas had a season ago, and the most efficient offense in league history two years ago. 

Yet injuries, specifically to Doncic and Porzingis, have been factors in the Mavericks' rough start. But while the on-court product hasn't lived up to expectations, players have spoken publicly about the environment being different than last year. 

After a win over the Clippers, Porzingis said, "If you're not having fun, then it's tough to play and give your all. I feel like this year we have that kind of environment." It sounds as though the Mavericks' locker room is in a better place than it supposedly was under Carlisle, but that hasn't translated to much more success on the court. We'll have to wait and see if Dallas can get things back on track with Kidd in charge, and get past the first round of the playoffs, something that Carlisle wasn't able to do since 2011.