Former Mavericks Coach Slams NBA Double Standards on Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic

Former Mavericks Coach Slams NBA Double Standards on Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Former Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Marko Milic has made bold comments about how NBA players and American media perceive European superstars like Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic.

Milic, who recently left the Mavericks after Doncic was traded to the Lakers in February 2025, told SIOL that he believes NBA stars struggle to accept that Doncic and Jokic are among the league’s best players despite not fitting the stereotypical “athlete” mold.

Marko Milic Doesn't Understand Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic Criticism

Milic claimed that American media and stars around the NBA have a hard time accepting that Doncic and Jokic are the best players in the NBA because they don't fit the stereotype of the athlete that the best player in the NBA needs to be.

"To put it simply, they have a hard time accepting that Luka and Jokic are the best players in the world because they don't fit their athletic standards," he stated.

"But mentally, technically, tactically, and with a smile on their faces, they dominate the league, and so there's always something being scrutinized." Milic's is not wrong; the numbers produced by the two stars are indeed eye-popping.

Jokic has won three of the last five MVP awards, averaging 26.8 points, 12.3 rebounds and 9.0 assists over the last five seasons. He also secured Finals MVP in 2023 when he led the Denver Nuggets to a championship.

Jokic was also relentlessly called out for being out of shape until 2020, when he used the COVID break to slim down, kick-starting his dominance of the NBA.

Doncic made five First Team All-NBA appearances in six seasons while leading the Dallas Mavericks to an unlikely NBA Finals appearance in 2024. While he hasn't achieved as much as Jokic, he's been just as productive, averaging 30.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.6 assists over this time.

With all signs pointing to Doncic's physical transformation, the Lakers' championship hopes with Doncic will rely on him becoming a multi-time MVP-winner like Jokic.

Former Mavericks Coach Shares Honest Take on Luka Doncic’s Fitness 

Doncic has shown off his renewed commitment to fitness by gracing the cover of Men's Health Magazine, with many expecting Doncic to have an MVP-caliber season in his first full year with the Lakers.

Coach Milic doesn't think that Doncic's shape will be as major a factor in his performances as the media made it out to be, citing his past seasons while supposedly in poor shape.

"For me, it's important that Luka feels good, regardless of appearances. I'm not like the Americans who follow their own criteria. No matter what was said about him, Luka was the league's top scorer and had truly outstanding seasons."

Whether or not Doncic was out of shape is a moot point because it's clear he's working toward a different level of fitness now. With his basketball season starting two months before his American counterparts due to EuroBasket, we'll soon get a glimpse of how much this has aided Doncic for what will be a crucial year for him.

As the NBA’s 2025-26 season approaches, all eyes will be on Doncic’s first full Lakers season. Marko Milic’s insights have sparked a fresh conversation about how European stars are viewed within the NBA’s elite.

Will Doncic silence his doubters and follow Jokic’s path to MVP glory? Time will tell, but the spotlight has never been brighter.

Related: Gary Payton Delivers Strong Statement on Luka Doncic's Defense

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 6, 2025, where it first appeared.