It's the end of the year, and thieves are trying to meet their targets, even stealing from NBA players' homes.
Recently, Luka Dončić's home was burglarized. Fortunately, he and his family were not at home at the time, so no one was in danger. The incident has been reported to the police, and an investigation is underway.
According to a report by the police, an unidentified individual broke into Dončić's home between 5 PM and 9 PM by smashing a window in the main bathroom and stole jewelry worth about $30,000.
Some may say that 30,000isnothingforDoncˇicˊ,whoearnsawhopping43.08 million this season. But it's not just about the money; it's about the lack of personal safety.
Before Dončić's theft, Milwaukee Bucks player Bobby Portis was also robbed in November, with many valuable items stolen. He even had to post a plea for help on his social media.
The NBA has already taken measures in response to these thefts but has only issued a memo to all players as a warning, reminding them of the recent wave of break-ins. After all, the league can't take any concrete action against such crimes.
It's no secret that the US has poor security, and NBA players' homes being targeted by thieves is not a new phenomenon. It's best not to rely too much on the police; more often than not, one must rely on their own luck.
Almost simultaneously, the Dallas Mavericks officially announced Dončić's injury, diagnosed as a left calf strain, which will keep him out for at least a month. This means he won't be able to play in 65 or more games this season, making him ineligible for regular-season awards.
Without Dončić as his partner, Kyrie Irving quickly experienced the taste of being unable to carry the team alone, shooting 16-for-26 for an empty 46 points as the Mavericks lost 122-126 to the 13th-ranked Western Conference team, the Portland Trail Blazers.
Klay Thompson's statistics stand out, with the second-highest number of attempts after Irving, but only managing the fifth-highest score on the team, shooting 5-for-17 for just 12 points, scoring less than his attempts.
Thompson can only occasionally show glimpses of his former glory this season, with only five games scoring 20 points or more and none reaching 30. His average stats are 14.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1 steal, with shooting percentages of 41.6% and 38%, which are probably the worst of his career.
However, considering Thompson's salary with the Mavericks, just over $15 million, we can't expect too much from him. It's fair to say you get what you pay for.
If the Mavericks also accept that they can't pin their hopes on Thompson, then they must also prepare mentally for the possibility that they might not make it to the finals or compete for the championship this season!