The Los Angeles Lakers have benefitted immensely from the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to Hollywood in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick. Even with LeBron James dealing with a groin injury that is expected to keep him out for at least one more week, the Lakers have a legitimate top-five player leading the way for the team as they navigate an especially difficult part of the schedule.
Doncic has been endearing himself to the Lakers faithful rather quickly; his demeanor on the court is that of a killer, as he always looks to put the opposition through the ringer with feats of wizardry with the basketball. But the new Lakers star revealed that his disposition on the hardwood is different from who he is off the court.
Yeah, I would say I’m quiet off the court. It’s a little different. Basketball is what I do. It gets me hyped, it makes me happy. There’s an obvious change between me on the court and off it,” Doncic said in a press conference following the Lakers’ Sunday afternoon win over the Phoenix Suns, via Lakers Nation.
It seems like Doncic always has it out for the Suns; he always seems to reserve his best in matchups against Devin Booker, and on Sunday, he put up 33 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in a 107-96 victory. He also engages in trash talk rather often, be it against his opponents or the towards the opposition’s home crowd.
Doncic’s level of competitiveness simply knows no bounds, and basketball, as a result, becomes an outlet of emotional release for him. And the Lakers won’t have it any other way, as they want nothing more than for Doncic to be his most comfortable self, both on and off the court.
The main goal for the Lakers in their coming games is to hold on to the fifth spot in the Western Conference standings. Their four-game losing streak last week dropped them to fifth in the standings, and with the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves on a roll as of late, the Lakers cannot afford to slip up.
The good news is that Luka Doncic and company took care of business in their first back-to-back set this week, taking an 11-point win over the Phoenix Suns and a 125-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Doncic, who had 21 points, nine rebounds, and 14 assists, was one six double-digit scorers for the Lakers on the night, with Austin Reaves having himself another stellar outing with 30 points.
