Luka Doncic on his 1st full season with LeBron, fitness journey and Lakers’ outlook | NBA Media Day

Luka Doncic on his 1st full season with LeBron, fitness journey and Lakers’ outlook | NBA Media Day

So Luca, when you came to the Lakers mid-season last year, you guys barely had a chance to practice. Uh you’ve had now had a couple months to kind of think about what it is to be a Laker, sign a new deal, have a really successful summer with Euro Basket. So where’s your head at coming into this year knowing that you get a full training camp with this group? I mean, my head is great. You know, obviously like I like I said in the podium, uh you know, fresh start for me, uh fresh mind. Uh so I’m very excited to start. So, you and LeBron played a limited amount of games last year. I think something like 15 and eight during the regular season together. What did you like about what you guys were able to discover right away as teammates? And what are the next levels you guys can get to? Cuz we both know you guys can do so many things with the basketball in your hands. Yeah, I think uh for sure uh this practice is going to help, you know, practice with him. Uh practice with the group is going to help a lot. Uh but I think that that little run we had uh when everybody was healthy, you know, I think we played one of the best basketball in the league at that point. Uh so I think we’re in a good way. So w with that said, right, there are still a lot of competition in the Western Conference. The defending champs are coming out of the West and the Thunder. Obviously Denver gave this team a ton of trouble in the years prior to you getting here. How do you view the rest of the league and where you guys fit into the championship picture? I mean, I think the West is insanely loaded right now. Uh, have so many teams that can surprise you. Uh, they have great players. So, uh, but our only goal is a championship. So, we’re going to look forward to that. What are you going to take from your experience with Slovenia and Euro Basket to into this this season? Rob Pelinka told me that he really loved seeing the leadership that you displayed. The scoring hadn’t been done by a guy since 1989, someone to score that many points. Uh what are you going to take from that experience into this year? I mean obviously like Rob said, you know, the leadership uh you know obviously it’s a little bit different in NBA than in the national team. Uh but for me always representing my country, you know, it’s it’s an honor. So uh I would probably take the leadership. Uh, but just the way the the guys came together, you know, everybody had their back. Uh, I want us to have that. I’m a guy who like only will work out in order to be able to still play basketball. I I heard that this summer when you were working on your body, you didn’t even play any basketball for like a month or so. Uh, what was that like to kind of remove that from the equation and and just work on your fitness without basketball being there daily? I mean, it was hard. Obviously, I have a court in at the house, so I got some shots up, but I didn’t practice basketball. Uh, but it was hard. You know, I’m very competitive guy. I like to play basketball. I like to play five on five, four and four, three and three, whatever it is. Uh, it was hard, but at the same point, it was kind of fun. What do you think about this group? Uh, obviously you guys lost in the first round. You made some personnel moves at the top of the list. Obviously, DeAndre Aton, Marcus Smart, Jake Laravia, but you do have a bunch of the guys back from last year’s team. just it’s kind of what do you think of the total team construction? Um I feel great. Uh like you said, you know, we added some pieces and a lot of guys stayed. Uh but I feel great. Obviously, first thing I’m most excited about is training camp. You know, getting to practice with the guys, which I didn’t have much option last year. Uh so that’s the first thing, but I feel great about the grip. You’re not the only guy to get a contract extension from the Lakers this summer. JJ Reick did as well. Uh you were very complimentary of JJ after the season last year. What do you like about what he brings to the table as a coach? I like about everything, you know, uh the way he communicates with us, uh with me, with the whole team, uh the way he studies the game playing, uh the way he approaches the game. So, there’s so many things good about him that I’m very excited he got extension so I can I can be on his team. You are still a young player. You’ve accomplished a lot. Um LeBron’s an old player who’s accomplished a lot. What what what’s it like seeing him still put his body through everything at 40 years old? He’s going to turn 41 in December and literally no guy in the history of league has ever played 23 seasons like he’s about to do. I mean, it’s just insane. I just speaks of what player what kind of person he is. I mean, that’s just unbelievable. And I get to experience that, you know, being on his team. Uh it’s just amazing to be a part of. And just we’ll end on this. What is a successful season for you and the Lakers this year? Winning a championship. That’s That’s the goal. And you think you can get there? Yeah. All right. We’ll be here watching. Good to see you back. Yeah. Thanks, [Music] [Applause]

Dave McMenamin speaks with Luka Doncic during Los Angeles Lakers Media Day ahead of another much-anticipated NBA season.

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