The moment felt spontaneous, but it quickly grabbed attention inside the arena. Bronny James, Luka Doncic, and Maxi Kleber were seen juggling a soccer ball under the basket during the Los Angeles Lakers warm up. On a basketball court, right beneath the rim, the trio casually showed footwork more common on a soccer pitch than an NBA floor.
For Bronny, the clip felt like more than just having fun. Standing next to Luka, one of the most creative players in the league it was hard not to notice the influence. This wasn’t random showboating; it looked like players loosening up while enjoying the moment.
The subtle influence shaping Bronny James’ confidence
There’s also a real explanation behind it. Luka Doncic has long been open about his love for soccer. Growing up in Europe, soccer was part of his daily life before basketball took over. Many of his strengths, balance, footwork, court vision are often linked to those early years controlling a ball with his feet. Bringing soccer into a pregame routine feels natural for him.
From a training standpoint, soccer juggling actually makes sense. Coaches and trainers value dynamic movements during warm ups to activate coordination, balance, and focus. Juggling a ball helps with ankle strength and reaction time, two things that matter deeply for basketball players who rely on sudden changes of direction.
For Bronny, being surrounded by elite talent allows him to absorb habits that go beyond drills and plays. Watching Luka casually mix soccer into his preparation shows him that staying loose, creative, and relaxed can be just as important as structured routines.
Like Luka, Maxi Kleber, he grew up in a soccer-heavy environment, making the exchange feel instinctive rather than staged. What could have been a quiet warm up turned into a clip fans replayed again and again.
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