Much has been about Luka Doncic’s conditioning since the Dallas Mavericks traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.
Doncic missed six weeks due to a calf injury, but he finished with 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting, five rebounds, and four assists in the Lakers’ 132-113 win over the Utah Jazz, his debut game in the purple and gold.
“The only way you get in basketball shape is to play basketball.” Udonis Haslem said on NBA Today. “Honestly, looking at that schedule, that’s the game you’re gonna come back because you’re coming off a calf injury. Coming back against a team like that gives you a chance to get in and get your feet wet without putting too much pressure offensively. I love what they did with that and the other guys they got involved.”
Playing for a historic franchise like the Lakers is a huge honor, but it also comes with a little bit of responsibility, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst alluded to.
“Having to be introduced last, having the jerseys, having a big deal made about him, and I think he felt a little bit of pressure,” Windhorst relayed.
Doncic had far from the best performance of his basketball career in his first game in LA, but the most important thing is that he got back onto the court, familiarized himself with the day-to-day of being a Laker, and got his first win.
Doncic and LeBron James have a chance to produce several incredible moments should the Lakers build the right team to maximize both of their strengths.
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