NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. MAVERICKS

June 17, 2024

Luka Doncic

Dallas Mavericks

Game 5: Postgame

Boston Celtics 106, Dallas Mavericks 88

Q. Luka, can you put your feelings into words? Obviously, a tough loss, but you guys really had a great season. I know it's not easy to think about right now, but just what's going through your head right now?

LUKA DONCIC: Nothing. Sad we lost. No specific.

Q. Now that the series is over, how much were you hurting?

LUKA DONCIC: It doesn't matter if I was hurt, how much was I hurt. I was out there. I tried to play, but I didn't do enough.

Q. Obviously, it's fresh right now, but so much has changed with this organization since the end of last season. Your first Finals appearance. How do you feel about kind of the state of the franchise now and the opportunities going into the future for this group?

LUKA DONCIC: I feel great. We did some great moves. I would say we've been together for five months. I'm proud of every guy that stepped on the floor, all the coaches, all the people behind. Obviously, we didn't win Finals, but we did have a hell of a season and I'm proud of every one of them.

Q. What did the Celtics' defense do that made things so difficult for you guys to score?

LUKA DONCIC: They were physical a lot. They have great defenders.

Q. It was not more one-on-one or help or closing out?

LUKA DONCIC: Just everything. They're a great team. That's what they do.

Q. There's a quick turnaround time before the Olympic qualifying tournament. What do you --

LUKA DONCIC: I don't want to talk about what's next, man. I have some decisions to make. I'm just trying to get a little bit healthier. We'll talk -- we have interviews in two days, right? So I'll give you an answer then.

Q. What do you take away from this that will help your team get back here next year ideally and win it next time? Is there any particular takeaways from being in the Finals?

LUKA DONCIC: Right now, I don't really know. That's not what I'm thinking. But they're a great team. They have been together for a long time, and they had to go through everything, so we just got to look at them, see how they play, maturity, and they have some great players. We can learn from that. We got to fight next season.

Q. I saw you and Kyrie had a moment of embrace there at the end of the game. What can you share about the conversations you guys had?

LUKA DONCIC: Just stay together, man. I think just having Ky on my team -- I mean, on our team, he's unbelievable. Just help him. We said, We'll fight together next season, and we just going to believe.