Former Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Marko Milic has ignited a conversation about how greatness is perceived in the NBA. His comments challenge the league’s long-standing obsession with athleticism and physique, and spotlight the brilliance of European stars Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic.
Milic, a Slovenian basketball legend who worked closely with Doncic during his tenure in Dallas, didn’t mince words. In interviews, he expressed frustration with what he sees as a double standard in how American media and fans evaluate players:
“They have a hard time accepting that Luka and Jokic are the best players in the world because they don’t fit their athletic standards,” Milic said. “But mentally, technically, tactically, and with a smile on their faces, they dominate the league, and so there’s always something being scrutinized”.
Milic’s critique goes beyond aesthetics. He argues that the NBA’s traditional metrics, vertical leap, speed, and muscular build, fail to capture the cerebral and tactical dominance that players like Doncic and Jokic bring to the court.
Despite their accolades, both players have faced persistent criticism, Jokic for his unconventional physique and Doncic for his conditioning. Milic pointed out that even after Doncic underwent a dramatic body transformation, critics simply shifted their focus:
“Now that he looks like a model, they’ll find something else to criticize him for,” Milic joked.
Milic’s comments tap into a broader cultural tension: the clash between raw athleticism and refined skill. In a league that often celebrates highlight-reel dunks and explosive speed, players like Jokic and Doncic remind fans that basketball is also a game of vision, anticipation, and control.
Their success challenges the notion that greatness must look a certain way. As Milic put it,
“I’m not like the Americans who follow their own criteria. No matter what was said about him, Luka was the league’s top scorer and had truly outstanding seasons”.
Milic’s departure from Dallas, alongside Doncic’s personal trainer Anze Macek, marked the end of an era. Though Milic didn’t join the Lakers’ staff, he returned to Slovenia to focus on youth development, continuing his mission to nurture the next generation of cerebral, technically gifted players.
