Luka Doncic has been a member of the Los Angeles Lakers for almost three months now, after general manager Rob Pelinka secured a blockbuster deal with the Dallas Mavericks to land the 26-year-old Slovenian superstar. And in that time, Doncic has already made a huge impact on the Lakers franchise and the fans, making them instantly competitive in the championship race in 2025.
One of the reasons the Mavericks opted to move on from Doncic is they reportedly felt that he did not have the work ethic to lift a team to a championship, despite them being in the NBA Finals last season. It was one of many baffling sentiments coming out of the Mavericks organization in the wake of the trade.
And it’s why Pelinka’s comments about Luka before Game 2 of their first round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves have an extra meaning to them. The Lakers president of basketball operations spoke about Doncic and the many reasons why he’s loved what he’s seen so far, via Spectrum SportsNet:
“He’s an illusionist. He does things on the basketball court that you don’t think are real. So you’ve got to show up to see it. You might see an online video or you might hear a legendary story, but until you’re here in the building seeing it live, you’re like ‘How did he do that?’ So, I’ll tell you, he’s been a great leader, in the gym every day, working hard at his craft. Obviously you can’t be one of the best players in the world without putting in the work. So it’s been good to see him at Health South, at our practice facility, the UCLA Health Training Center, putting in the work on a nightly basis to be great on the court for our fans.”
Pelinka seems to be very intentional here calling out how much he appreciates Doncic’s work ethic. It’s a drastically different tone from the one his previous team had on his way out the door. It also is simply a fact about Luka, that he is committed to the craft and does things on a basketball court that simply don’t feel real.
It’s why the Lakers are in for a potentially very bright future with Doncic being handed the keys to the franchise.
Luka Doncic: Lakers need to stay together while in Minnesota
Luka Doncic knows that the Lakers are in for two difficult games against the Timberwolves in Minneapolis, as he played there during the Western Conference Finals last season. In order for L.A. to have success, Doncic believes it’s on him and LeBron James to keep the team together.
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