Luka knocks play-in tournament: 'I don't see the point'

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is not a fan of the NBA's play-in tournament.

"I don't understand the idea of a play-in," Doncic said following Monday's 113-95 home defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

"You play 72 games to get into the playoffs, then maybe you lose two in a row and you're out of the playoffs. So, I don't see the point of that," Doncic added.

Dallas is currently in a play-in spot at seventh place in the Western Conference. The Mavericks are two games behind the Portland Trail Blazers for the sixth and final automatic playoff berth, with the Blazers owning the tiebreaker.

"We're just trying to get to the sixth spot," Doncic said. "I think that's our goal right now. Maybe even (higher) than the sixth spot."

The league's board of governors unanimously approved the usage of a play-in tournament this season following its implementation during last year's bubble.

Teams that finish seventh through 10th in each conference will participate in the play-in. The seventh- and eighth-placed finishers face off to determine the No. 7 seed. Whichever team loses will face the winner between the ninth- and 10th-placed clubs for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Doncic isn't the only NBA standout critical of the tournament. Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green said "fighting for a play-in spot does not motivate me," earlier this month. The Warriors currently sit 10th in the Western Conference.

"I want to win every game I play because I hate losing," Green added. "That shit really bothers me. So, that's what motivates me, not fighting for some play-in spot."