Luka Doncic is in his first offseason with the Los Angeles Lakers after his stunning midseason trade from the Mavericks. He, LeBron James and the Lakers were ousted in the first round of the playoffs, so they, like the Mavericks, are looking at a long offseason.
For Doncic, the time off will be as much about adjusting to his new home in Los Angeles. Doncic has previously discussed the shock of the trade and how he never had any kind of plans to leave Dallas, so the abrupt move may still require some time. But Doncic appears to be settling in.
Doncic recently appeared on the ‘Mind the Game’ podcast hosted by LeBron James and Steve Nash where he discussed those adjustments, first and foremost among them, how he now lives in a beach town.
See what the former Mavs star had to say below.
Steve Nash: “I think it’d be unfair to the audience if we didn’t ask you off the bat what it’s like playing together, playing with LeBron, I know you looked up to him as a kid and now you guys are teammates
Luka Doncic: “I mean it’s great, I’ve never played with a guy like this. Being traded here to LA, it was different. But just to play with guys like [LeBron], it’s unbelievable. I can learn so [much] stuff. First of all, off the court, all the things he does just to be ready for the game. And then obviously on the court, everybody knows what kind of player he is.”
Nash: “You now live in Los Angeles. How is that for you? Like the day you find out, a city that’s bigger than your country. How was that for you culturally, to all of a sudden be like ‘Oh, I live in the biggest city in the world?’
Doncic: “Well, first of all, this is the first city I’ve played in that has an ocean. And I really like the ocean. So after a couple days, that was the first thing on my mind. I like it, I like it very much. The only thing is the traffic
Nash: “You’re an unassuming guy though and this is Hollywood, does that take an adjustment or does that not bother you?”
Doncic: “No, not really. Every time there’s famous people watching every game courtside. That’s amazing to see.”
LeBron James: “First time I asked him a question, ‘How you adjusting?’ ‘I like the beach,’ first thing he said. ‘I like the beach.
