After the Minnesota Timberwolves exploited Luka Doncic’s physical conditioning – capitalizing on his sluggishness on the defensive end – it became even more apparent that the five-time All-Star needs to get in better shape if he wants to thrive with a storied franchise like the Los Angeles Lakers.
Time and again, even less talented and less experienced players have shown confidence in charging at “The Don” with aggressive play, as his body tends to give up against a hard-nosed playing style
However, for John Salley, there’s no reason to panic just yet. As he sees it, the Slovenian maestro has the privilege of entering his first training camp alongside LeBron James, who is unarguably the best mentor in the league and can help bring the best out of Luka in the most comforting ways.
Despite just seven seasons under his belt, “Luka Magic” already has more All-NBA First-Team selections than Steph Curry, which underscores the sky-high expectations surrounding him. Not only is he projected to have a multi-MVP ceiling, but now that he’s wearing Purple and Gold, the pressure to deliver titles and create a dynasty has intensified even more
That is why when different Wolves players felt comfortable defending his full court and charging at him on the defensive end, concerns grew about whether Doncic could sustain those expectations. But for “The Spider,” it’s nothing that LBJ’s leadership and disciplinary approach can’t fix.
According to the 60-year-old veteran forward, having someone like James, who has laid the blueprint for longevity in professional sports, can immediately have a positive impact on Luka by helping him understand what is truly required to be the best in the world at a young age.
The point with Doncic isn’t that fans or analysts expect him to become jacked or turn into the league’s fastest player, nor do they want him to abandon his off-court lifestyle entirely. But what is essential is that he trims the excess weight, builds enough lean muscle, and strengthens his body just enough to dominate matchups and hold his own defensively, forcing opponents to think twice before targeting him
This is where an experienced and ready-to-take-a-back-seat LeBron does wonders for him. In the twilight of his career, the four-time MVP wants to contend for a title without having to carry the torch and nightly pressure to single-handedly lead a team to the finish line. And given how confident Salley sounds, it seems like he is aware of just how much time and effort “The Akron Hammer” is going to put into making the “Slovenian Magician” the next face of the league.
