DALLAS – The sting of rape and extortion would appear to weigh on anyone, professional athlete or not. So, when the story broke over the weekend that Kristaps Porzingis was being accused of the former and possibly being a victim of the latter, his going away for a while seemed logical.
Almost expected, really.
But there he was Monday night, taking his usual seat in the middle of the Mavericks bench. Rick Carlisle even offered Porzingis a pass to take care of things and stay away.
“He said, ‘No, I plan on being with the team.’ I said great,” Carlisle said, as the short-handed Mavs blasted the short-handed Sixers 122-102.
Complicating matters in the court of public opinion is the Mavericks’ recent history with sexual harassment. The published findings last fall, subsequent fines and flipping of the organizational structure after years of workplace misconduct make taking on Porzingis seemingly a risky proposition.
A Mavs official confirmed that the team was aware of the alleged extortion attempt by a woman in New York last year, but not her rape accusation when trade talks with the New York Knicks began in February. The Mavs obviously made the deal, illustrating their comfort with what they learned from the Knicks.
The details since reported by ESPN and other publications cast serious doubt on the accuser. Mark Cuban went so far as to tell reporters that the team isn’t worried about the legal future of the 7-foot-3 Latvian without actually saying so.
“I just can’t say anything,” said Cuban, referring questions to the NBA office and authorities. “I will say this: some people need to do their homework and use some common sense. A little bit of common sense is so enlightening.”
The Mavs are firmly behind Porzingis, who along with Luka Doncic, stands as the franchise’s future.
“From a basketball standpoint, we’re business as usual,” Carlisle said.
Porzingis didn’t speak to media before or after the game, as the focus shifted back to basketball. The Mavericks have suddenly won two in row, having also beaten the playoff-bound Oklahoma City Thunder on the road Sunday.
Carlisle is understandably upbeat with the uptick, especially with both wins coming without Doncic, who’s out with a swollen knee. With five games left in the season, Carlisle would like to see his prized rookie back, but acknowledged Doncic could be shut down for the remainder.
“If it’s not the right thing, we won’t do it,” Carlisle said of bringing Doncic back. “He’s young. Generally young guys heal faster than guys like us. We’ll see.”
Carlisle likened the spirt of the club right now to the 2011 NBA champion Mavs. It’s easy to see why after watching guys like Justin Jackson and Salah Mejri fly all over the court against a Sixers squad with title aspirations, albeit without Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler.
Only two players remain from the 2011 Mavs, and one likely has only those five games left. Dirk Nowitzki has refused to call it such, but more hints leaked out Monday night. His one-time running partner and closer friend Steve Nash made the trip to Dallas at Dirk’s request. Nash can’t make it to April 9 home finale.
And Cuban called on fans to be in the building for what promises to be Nowitzki’s final game in Big D.
“You want to be here for that last game,” Cuban said. “It’s going to be a special night whether he wants it or likes it or not.”
As for Porzingis, he’s not going anywhere by all “common sense” indications. He’s still expected at practice and will ride out the season in a suit as he gears up for next season. The level of distraction is, in Carlisle’s estimation, “zero.”
The Mavs are fine with things. Porzingis, smiling and high-fiving kids on the way to the locker room after the win, looks to be, too.
