In a year, many things can change and, with luck, others will remain the same. Luka Doncic made a similar analysis one year after arriving at the Los Angeles Lakers after the Dallas Mavericks traded him on February 1, 2025, in exchange for Anthony Davis.
The anniversary coincided with the Purple and Gold’s game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, and although the game ended in a 112-100 defeat, the Slovenian’s assessment was positive.
Luka talks about his first year with the Lakers
During the loss to the Knicks, Luka was the leading scorer with 30 points, but he also had 15 rebounds and 8 assists. Despite his efforts, he was unable to prevent the team’s second loss in recent games.
However, this game was special, as it marked exactly one year since he joined the team, coinciding with a visit by the Lakers to Madison Square Garden.
After the game, Luka spoke to the press and was asked about this and how united the team is: “I think we’re in a good spot,” Doncic said.
“Obviously, we have some work to do… Today, we obviously missed a lot of good looks, but I think we have a great group,” according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Doncic also referred to his adaptation after leaving Dallas to land in Los Angeles, having spent the first five and a half seasons of his career with the Mavericks. However, Luka assured that he has not had to reinvent himself: “I haven’t changed my playing style too much. It’s true that there are small adjustments because the team and teammates are different, but I talk a lot with the coach about playing without the ball and other details that are working well for me. It’s not a radical change,” he explained, according to Heraldo.
This season, the Slovenian Lakers star is averaging 33.7 points, 8.8 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game, leading the league in scoring and ranking second in total assists.
Beyond the numbers, Luka’s arrival at the Lakers undoubtedly brought vision, intelligence, and competitive spirit, taking responsibility in decisive moments, creating opportunities for his teammates, and controlling the pace of the game. His presence not only raised the collective level, but also restored hope to Lakers fans and instilled respect in their rivals.
The truth is that this move had a strong impact on fans and the NBA. However, it would appear that the team is not yet planning another move of this magnitude before Thursday’s trade deadline:
“We’re right there in the playoff chase in the West,” JJ Redick said. “And I think our guys have been great all season. They’ve really done a nice job of kind of responding to the ups and downs that a season presents… I think whether you’re a GM, a coach, a player, you’re never going to look at a roster and say, ‘This is a perfect roster, and all the pieces fit perfectly together.’ It’s just, it doesn’t really happen a lot. The guys have done a great job over the last month, month and change, of trying to play for each other and play good basketball together,” added the LA head coach.
Meanwhile, after their loss to New York, the Lakers have a record of 29-19. On Tuesday, February 3, they will return to action to face the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in New York.
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