Report: Kristaps Porzingis Feels Like Afterthought Rather Than a Co-Star in Dallas

Three years ago, Kristaps Porzingis was the centerpiece of the blockbuster trade that saw him depart from New York and form a highly touted tandem with Luka Doncic. Fast forward to today and Porzingis is reportedly frustrated with Doncic's tendency to dominate both the basketball and spotlight, relegating him to afterthought status, according to an article by ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

In yet another first-round exit at the hands of the Clippers, The Unicorn averaged a lacklustre 13.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. Doncic, on the other hand, posted 35.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 10.3 assists per game, including 46 points in Game 7. While most people disparage Porzingis for his subpar performances, Tim MacMahon writes that the 25-year-old would cryptically blame the Mavericks' Doncic-centric offence for his low-scoring nights.

But Porzingis has been frustrated, often feeling more like an afterthought than a co-star as Doncic dominates the ball and the spotlight, sources told ESPN. Porzingis frequently made thinly veiled references during his postgame media availabilities, such as saying the "ball actually moved tonight" after high-scoring performances or stating that the offense didn't involve him on low-scoring nights.

Despite averaging 20.1 points and 8.9 rebounds in the regular season, Porzingis' non-existence in the postseason places Dallas in a precarious position this offseason. It begs the question of whether he is good enough to be the No.2 option next to Doncic. Evidently, the chemistry between the two has been fraught with friction, as they admittedly are not friends.

Moreover, it will be a daunting task for the Mavericks front office to trade the seven-foot-three star. He has three years, $101.5 million remaining on his contract, as well as an extensive injury history. Not to mention his deficiencies have been accentuated due to his poor play in this year's playoffs. 

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