LeBron James said on Apr. 9 that Luka Doncic’s first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers has been remarkable, highlighting Doncic’s performance before a recent injury and his growing comfort within the team.
Doncic, who suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, had delivered impressive statistics and helped position the Lakers as contenders before his setback. His play had also put him in discussions for Most Valuable Player honors.
James spoke about Doncic’s adaptation to his new environment during an episode of his Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash. “I could be here for hours talking about what I’m seeing,” James said. “I just think his level of comfortability now in the organization has allowed him to play free basketball… I’m comfortable being a Laker. I’m comfortable in my home. I’m comfortable with the guys. I’m comfortable being myself, like opening up. He just seems so free and that does wonders to the game itself when you not only feel free, but feel accepted as well.”
James added: “You gotta think, seven, eight years in an organization and you like I plan on being here my whole career, I wanna be here my whole career and then boom, one night it’s over with. It took an adjustment and I just see like a sense of free, like I’m just back to being ‘Luka Magic’ like ‘The Don’ out here just playing a game, in the flow… And every night you look up at the scoreboard and it’s 35-8-7, 40-10-8, 45-11-7… And to be out there and witnessing it and seeing it. I’ve played with some great players obviously throughout my career and he’s right up there with them. It’s crazy.”
The Lakers have worked to help Doncic feel accepted after his trade from another team—a transition he previously described as difficult—and he is now considered close both by teammates generally and specifically by backcourt partner Austin Reaves.
Despite his injury potentially sidelining him for both regular season games and possibly playoffs games this year, head coach JJ Redick said that Doncic remains motivated to return if possible during postseason play.
