Luka Doncic is still finding his way for the Los Angeles Lakers, but he is finding a way to impact games.
Basketball fans are well aware Luka Doncic’s 19.3 points per game average is well below what he is capable of. But there is little reason to be concerned.
Luka Doncic’s trade came at a time he was recovering from a two-month lay-off, so there has been a lot to deal with. It helps that he is coming into an impressive LA Lakers team who have just won their fourth successive game, and he is certainly a part of that.
His triple-double against his former team showed his all-round game, and he is averaging 9.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists. He went 21-13-5 in the win over the Timberwolves, despite going 1-9 from three.
The whole NBA world has been obsessed with the Luka Doncic trade the moment it happened, with the generational superstar bizarrely discarded by the Dallas Mavericks.
Doncic is still playing his way into form, and with his three point shooting ineffective against Minnesota, he found other ways to get to 21 points.
Former Lakers star Robert Horry praised the coaching of JJ Redick, along with Luka Doncic’s multifaceted ability to score points in different ways, while noting the attention he draws.
Just like the outside focus on Doncic, when he is on the court, he attracts the attention of the opposing defense, which is benefitting his Lakers teammates, in a way Horry compared to his former teammate Shaquille O’Neal.
Horry told the Lakers post-game show on Spectrum: “The way he played tonight was the way it’s gonna happen in certain games. He wasn’t shy, he kept going to the hole, he kept causing contact, for me, thats one of the things that you [need to] do.
“You need to have a coach saying ‘you not shooting it good from three, go to the rack’, because he has the ability to go to the rack and open up areas for different players.
“They collapse so much on him, he’s like a Shaq when he gets in there, that everybody’s going to look at him, collapse and not let him score, and all these guys are going to get pot shots.
“I think if I’m a player I’m going to him to say ‘go to the rack, kick it out, I’m going to get some pot shots’.”
There is credit to Horry’s comments. LeBron James was able to score 33 points, with Austin Reaves adding 23, while Jaxson Hayes was also able to score 10.
Settling into a new team, in a new city, returning from injury, mid-season, is a difficult scenario for any player, and the Lakers are being patient with their prize new addition.
What’s clear is that there are signs it is working. The team are fourth in the Western Conference, and now building towards the playoffs.
Former Lakers star James Worthy commented: “It wasn’t your typical Luka game. He was a little off, his first shots, he was like 0-7, I still think he’s playing himself into shape, and so not his typical nights but still had some moments where we needed him and he came through.”
