A new report has shed light on a major confrontation between Rick Carlisle and Dennis Smith Jr. during their time together with the Dallas Mavericks.
On The Hoop Collective podcast, NBA insider Tim MacMahon detailed a tense moment early in Luka Doncic’s rookie season when Carlisle accused Smith Jr. of being “jealous of Luka” in front of the entire team. The heated exchange reportedly took place during a film session following a blown lead against the Atlanta Hawks.
According to MacMahon, the situation escalated to the point where even DeAndre Jordan, who had previously spurned Carlisle in free agency, stepped in to defend Smith Jr. “Coach, you can’t talk to us like that,” Jordan reportedly said.
MacMahon also noted that Smith Jr. had attempted to build a strong relationship with Doncic, often playing video games with him and Dorian Finney-Smith. However, Doncic was reportedly unhappy with the situation, which contributed to the growing divide in the locker room.
Carlisle, known for his demanding coaching style, eventually departed Dallas after the 2020-21 season and later joined the Indiana Pacers. MacMahon suggested that Carlisle has since adjusted his approach, saying, “Everything I hear is that Rick has mellowed… he’s done a much better job of that in Indiana.”
The Mavericks ultimately traded Smith Jr. to the New York Knicks in 2019 as part of the deal that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas. Meanwhile, Doncic has emerged as the franchise cornerstone, while Carlisle is leading an up-and-coming Pacers team.
