2018-19 Mavs player: ‘Luka Doncic hated how Rick Carlisle treated other people’

Seven months later, Smith was traded to the New York Knicks, an afterthought in a deal that brought Kristaps Porzingis midway through Doncic’s rookie season. 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. -via ESPN / December 15, 2021

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. -via ESPN / December 15, 2021

“You’ve got two f—ing points, get the f— out of here!” Carlisle shouted at Mejri, pointing toward the tunnel to the locker room, an exchange caught by television cameras. After practice the next day, Carlisle told reporters he had a talk with Mejri and “apologized to him for behavior that was really emotional, uncalled for and unprofessional on my part.” -via ESPN / December 15, 2021