According to Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, Luka Doncic did not join practice for them on Sunday as he was dealing with a sore ankle. His status for their next game and the severity of the injury are still unknown.

The 2018 no. 3 overall pick Luka Doncic has been living up to the hype that surrounded him before the start of the season. In his first nine games as an NBA player, he has averaged 19.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists while being a good backcourt partner for Dennis Smith Jr.

If he does miss some games, it will be huge loss for the Mavs as they will miss his playmaking and versatility on both ends of the floor. He can be the primary ball handler at times which allows Smith Jr. to focus on his scoring. He is also great in the pick-and-roll because he can create scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates. When he gets the rebounds he has the ability to push the ball in transition or make the necessary outlet passes for easy points. He can also play off the ball as he is shooting well from three-point range.

As a fan, you hate to see a young guy missing games this early in his career especially with how well Luka Doncic has been playing. However, you also want to see the team taking care of the player's long-term health by not forcing him to play while he's hurt. The Mavs are not exactly contenders this season and will be better off taking care of their young star.