EL SEGUNDO — Lakers star Luka Doncic’s generosity toward the local community and his team has been exhibited multiple times since the franchise acquired him 10½ months ago.
That characteristic was once again on display on Tuesday, with Doncic gifting Lakers players, coaches and everyone within the organization’s basketball operations department electric bicycles.
Coach JJ Redick estimated that it was 103 gifts from Doncic.
“A very, very high-end E-bike,” Redick said. “I’ll be excited to drive that down to the beach. Looking forward to it. Very nice gesture from him. The guys all really, really enjoyed it.”
Players and staffers were seen using the bikes after Tuesday’s practice ended.
“Shout-out, Luka, man,” forward Jake LaRavia said. “What a guy. I’ve never been on an E-Bike. [Center] Jaxson [Hayes] is out there riding. Looks like it goes pretty fast. I’m excited to get on it.”
The E-bikes were another notable gift/experience Doncic has provided his teammates with this season.
Doncic, a well-known car enthusiast, treated his teammates to a trip to the Porsche Experience Center during the preseason.
As for the local community, Doncic donated $500,000 via his self-named foundation to Los Angeles wildfire recovery efforts in mid-February, just one week after being traded to the Lakers.
“We saw that last year with the way he responded, basically a month after the fires, to giving back,” Redick said. “It’s just who he is. I mean, he’s cognizant of the platform and sort of place that he has within each community that he’s been in.
“And L.A.’s been no different, and this team has been no different. The Porsche driving experience that he did with his teammates earlier in the year. Just stuff like that, it’s been awesome.”
G LEAGUE TIME
Second-year wing Dalton Knecht, the Lakers’ first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, was assigned to the team’s South Bay G League affiliate on Monday so he could play in South Bay’s games against the San Diego Clippers at the UCLA Health Training Center.
The assignment was Knecht’s first with the Lakers’ G League team since being drafted.
The 24-year-old hasn’t been a consistent part of the Lakers’ rotation this season, playing 56 minutes in seven of the team’s previous 11 games over the last month.
Knecht is averaging 6.4 points in 15.1 minutes (20 games) this season.
Second-year guard Bronny James and rookie forward Adou Thiero were also assigned to South Bay for Tuesday night’s game.
“When we first kind of talked about it as a staff, we ran it by [General Manager Rob Pelinka]. RP had communicated to Dalton and his agents early before we kind of made the final decision that there was a possibility,” Redick said. “And look, I just told him, he needs to play.
“He’s gonna get opportunities on this team. He’s already had some opportunities. He’s played well in some. He’s gonna help us at some point. But right now, he needs to play, and he needs to have fun playing. Excited to watch him play, excited to watch Adou, Bronny and our two-ways [contract players]. It’ll be a great opportunity for those guys.”