The Los Angeles Lakers are a hot topic of NBA conversation as the regular season draws ever closer. Luka Doncic is now ready to pilot the ship in his first full season after signing a contract extension this summer. LeBron James is set to miss some time with sciatica as Father Time looks to finally gain the upper hand in their epic battle. And the team is hoping to improve upon last season’s first-round playoff exit.
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With LeBron out, the Lakers really need Luka to step up. By all indications, he’s ready to, as he lost over 30 pounds this summer and got in the best shape of his professional life. He looked phenomenal in the EuroBasket tournament playing for his native Slovenia, leading the competition in scoring by more than seven points per game over Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished in second.
It’s fair to say that Luka is feeling good with Opening Night looming. He dropped 25 points on the Suns in his preseason debut last night, grinning from ear to ear as he did it.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick took note of Luka’s enthusiasm, saying after the game, “He has an ability to do what I would call it, like, silly stuff, but still be locked in. It’s important to him that basketball is fun. He’s at play. And that’s part of what makes him great.”
Redick used to be Luka’s teammate on the Mavericks, a fact which Luka used against him when told of Redick’s comments. “Obviously I had to carry JJ when he was my teammate, he couldn’t move at all, so I had to carry him big-time,” he joked.
Poor Redick tried to say something complimentary about his superstar, and instead got roasted. The man has a family, Luka! The five-time All-NBA First Teamer did make sure to let everyone know he was joking, and that he did agree with Redick’s observation that he was having fun.
“All seriousness, I feel that way. Just getting out there and playing basketball for me is amazing,” he said. “I’m just happy to be on the basketball court again.”
Luka took it hard when the Mavericks shocked the basketball world by trading him in February, but it seems like he’s fully acclimated to his new surroundings. A skinny motivated Luka is a dangerous Luka, and one that’s having this much fun before the season even begins is more deadly still. There may be an MVP kind of season loading in L.A.
