Mark Cuban fires back at the artist who painted a "Please send help" Luka Doncic mural in Dallas - "It's disrespectful"
Mark Cuban
© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Mavericks 2022-23 season has gotten off to a decent start, but it feels like there's a lot to be desired from the team after their run to the Western Conference Finals last season. Their 24-21 record is good for fifth place in the West right now, but after all the success they came across last season, it's tough to affirmatively say that many Mavs fans are totally thrilled with their team's record through this point in the season.
Cuban fires back at the notion that Luka Doncic needs more help
While not everything has gone according to plan for Dallas, the team has to be thrilled with what they have seen from Luka Doncic so far this season. The Mavs star guard has taken another huge step forward this season (33.8 PPG, 9 RPG, 8.8 APG, 49.8 FG%) and is a leading MVP candidate with the first half of the campaign in the rearview mirror.
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The problem is that Doncic is forced to do a lot of the dirty work for Dallas. The Mavericks' supporting cast wasn't super strong for Doncic last season, and it hasn't been any better this season. Many fans want to see the front office go and get some help for Doncic, with a mural of Doncic that says "Please send help" recently popping up in Dallas. At the same time, many folks like the mural, one person who doesn't is team owner Mark Cuban, who fired back at the fans complaining about the lack of help surrounding Doncic in Dallas.
"It's disrespectful. But it's your choice to do what you want. If that's the way you want to be a fan. Go for it." - Mark Cuban, Mavs Moneyball
Should the Mavericks get Luka Doncic some more help?
That was Cuban's response, via email, to Preston Pannek, the artist responsible for the mural. Cuban obviously doesn't sound too thrilled with the mural, but it's becoming increasingly clear that the mural is speaking for many fans of the Mavericks and maybe even Doncic himself. He needs some more help in his supporting cast, or else the Mavs will be toast this season.
Behind Doncic on the Mavs in points per game is Christian Wood, and while his 18.3 points per game are respectable, that's nowhere near Doncic's league-leading tally at 33.8. Not to mention, Doncic is averaging nearly nine assists per game, so he's Dallas' primary facilitator, leading his team with nine rebounds per game despite being a guard as well.
Doncic is built to do a little bit of everything on the court, but it's not a sustainable way to build a winner in the NBA right now. Doncic needs help like the mural so eloquently suggests, and until he gets it, the Mavericks may be stuck spinning their wheels this season. The good news is that there's still ample time to get Doncic more help, but Cuban's comments here don't exactly bode well for fans banking on the Mavericks to pull off some huge moves before the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline.
