Luka Dončić Sees Major Potential for Lakers After Break: 'I Think We Can Go Very Far'
Luka Dončić discusses his return to the Lakers, his aspirations, and adjusting after the trade, aiming for a championship run in iconic Purple and Gold.
With a 32-20 record and fifth-place ranking in the Western Conference standings, the Los Angeles Lakers face intriguing potential as Luka Dončić works his way back into rhythm. He missed over six weeks due to a left calf strain and is adjusting to playing for a new team, but the team believes in their potential.
While playing under a minutes restriction after being sidelined for over six weeks due to a left calf strain, Dončić averaged 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while playing just 23.5 minutes per game amid a restriction. He shot just 40.7% from the floor, 26.7% from deep, and 50.0% from the free throw line, which he admitted he felt a bit rusty after such an extended layoff.
“I think we can go very far,” Dončić said after the Lakers’ loss against the Jazz. “Obviously, today I felt a little bit rusty, two games in after my injury—turnovers, missed free throws, so I gotta do way better. But now we're approaching this break, so we gotta rest.”
Given the nature of the trade, Dončić acknowledged that the All-Star break is an opportunity for mental rest—something he’s excited about. He mentioned that his plans for the break include working out and spending time with his family.
“For me, I think it's more mental rest than anything else, but still gotta work,” Dončić said. “I'm excited about this break and can't wait to go back to play.”
The Lakers have a short turnaround before playing the NBA’s only game on Wednesday when they face the Charlotte Hornets. They will have time for a full practice on Tuesday. Dončić has faced limited opportunities to compete in a five-on-five setting since his calf strain, but he’s encouraged about his progress.
“It’s good. Still getting back in rhythm,” Dončić acknowledged. “You can't really practice that five-on-five stuff. It's way different in the game, but I'm just happy to be back out there and trying to win and play games.”
LeBron James understands the patience that’ll be required while Dončić finds his footing after a lengthy injury. Despite only having two games together, James sees significant potential for the season's stretch run with this team.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do. We only had two games so far, and I believe he’s been on a minutes restriction since he came back from the calf,” James said before the NBA All-Star Game. “He hasn’t played since Christmas, I believe. As he continues to get in form, I think we could be really good going down the stretch. But we’ll see what happens.”
The Lakers’ last performance was a 131-119 loss against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center, which followed a 132-113 victory against this same opponent at Crypto.com Arena just two days prior. Dončić felt the first game strongly indicated how this group could play on both ends, indicating their potential despite the loss.
“I think it shows the first game we played against them, the way we can play, the way we move the ball—everybody connected on both sides of the floor,” Dončić said. “So, today wasn't our best game. We got to work on that.”
The time spent playing for J.J. Redick has been limited, his brief former Dallas Mavericks teammate, but Dončić already greatly respects him.
“He's a great coach. I know it's only his first year, but it doesn't feel like it,” Dončić said of Redick. “It feels like he's been here for 15 years. So, props to him and I can't wait to be coached more by him.”
Redick appreciates Dončić’s approach to the game, describing his unselfishness as contagious for the rest of the group. It will be a process for Dončić to integrate fully and be himself, but the Lakers will surely up his on-ball workload as they go. The Slovenian superstar’s most frequent play type was spot-up in his first two games, clearly showing his desire to fit into the group and not be disruptive.
"I thought we played the right way," Redick said of Dončić. "Luka’s unselfishness is contagious. It’s all about building chemistry."
Before the trade deadline, the Lakers had a deal in place to acquire Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets, but a failed physical rescinded the deal. As a result, Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish returned to Los Angeles. While Los Angeles will not gain the lob threat that Williams proved, Dončić likes the team as it is.
“Yeah, I mean, it's obviously different, something not expected,” Dončić said about the trade being rescinded. “I didn't expect it, probably other people didn't expect it, for him to leave and then come back. It took a little bit, but at the end of the day, this is our team. This is the team we have, and we're going to show we can do everything.”
In the big picture, Dončić called playing for the Lakers a “dream,” something he thought about since childhood when watching Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.
“I always saw Kobe and how he played here,” Dončić said. “He was a legend that we all followed, especially in Europe. Another Pau was here, so of course, I wanted to play here. It's a dream.”
Like Bryant and Gasol, Dončić now gets a chance to compete for a championship while wearing the iconic Purple and Gold.