In a surprising move, the Dallas Mavericks traded their star player, Luka Dončić, to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1. In return, the Mavericks received Anthony Davis and Max Christie, while the Lakers acquired Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris alongside the young star. Dončić, a 25-year-old Slovenian sensation, had been the face of the Mavericks since his NBA debut in 2018.
With his exceptional playmaking and scoring abilities, he quickly became one of the league’s brightest stars. However, the trade to the Lakers was unexpected since Dončić had averaged 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 34.9 minutes per game in 422 games (all starts) with the Mavericks.
Adjusting to this sudden change must have been challenging for Dončić. Now, Lakers head coach J.J. Redick has shared insights into Docic’s state of mind post-trade.
Lakers HC Confident Luka Dončić Will Find His Rhythm
The trade was a major shake-up, and for a player as competitive as Dončić, it took time to process. But now, head coach Redick believes Dončić is over it, and his focus is fully on basketball.
“Speaking with him Tuesday night [Feb. 18] after practice, we sat down together. He’s all in,” Redick told the L.A. Times’ Dan Woike. “He’s [over] the mental part of the shock and everything; he’s in a really good place. And now we’ve got to get him physically where he needs to be to be Luka.”
Dončić’s arrival has undoubtedly altered the Lakers’ dynamics. Pairing him with veteran superstar LeBron James creates a formidable duo. However, it also poses a challenge for the Lakers since both have a similar playing style. Meanwhile, James has emphasized the importance of integrating Dončić into the team’s strategy:
“He’s definitely priority No. 1,” James stated. “We need to make sure he’s comfortable and ready to perform at his best. It’s about building chemistry and understanding each other’s game.”
“He’s definitely priority number one.”
LeBron James on Luka Dončić.#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/IzD8yrIQWP
— 🎗NBA•Fan🎗 (@Klutch_23)
LeBron James Shared His Thoughts Over Dončić’s Slow Start
Dončić hasn’t had the best start since joining the Lakers. He’s averaging just 14.7 points per game while struggling with 4.0 turnovers per game and shooting only 35.6% from the field in three games.
His addition hasn’t helped the Lakers much either. The Lakers lost to the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets with Dončić in the lineup, showing that it’s not easy to add a big star like Dončić in the middle of the season.
James knows this adjustment takes time. After the loss to the Hornets on Feb. 19, he explained why Dončić is still finding his rhythm.
“He still doesn’t know all the plays. He doesn’t know all the defensive coverages, all the signals and things that we’ve built since September,” James said. “So obviously, we’re trying to fast-track it on the fly. He’s coming back from his injury. He’s getting back into form. So we’re all working through it together.”
Dončić, a five-time NBA All-Star is indeed still learning the Lakers’ system. But with time, the Lakers hope he will get comfortable and play like the superstar he is.
