Luka Doncic is one of the best young players in the NBA. But because of the trade last season from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers, and everything that followed, people might have forgot how good he is. During his first six seasons, he made five straight All-NBA first team selections. For context, Steph Curry has only four All-NBA first team selections. Right now, he is with the Slovenian national team, preparing for the EuroBasket. According to his teammates, Luka Doncic is in the best shape he has ever been.
Luka’s Slovenian Teammate Has a Scary Message for the NBA
Slovenia has lost the first four friendly games ahead of the EuroBasket. But Luka’s teammates believe that he is in the best shape of his life. And that would be a scary thing for the rest of the NBA. Edo Muric, who was once a captain of the Slovenian team, believes Doncic looks sensational.
He said, “Yeah, he’s faster and jumps more. And this year, I expect him to be the best version of himself.”
With his new physique and shape, Luka has become tougher to guard in practice. The Los Angeles Lakers will likely love this new version, and their fans may be pleased. If Luka gets to a top-five player level in the league again, he is capable of carrying a team in the Finals.
Doncic’s game has never been about flashy highlights and athleticism. He is crafty and knows how to create space with his body. But his new shape makes him more explosive and quicker. If fans and teams in the league need a reminder, the last time he played with the Slovenian national team, he came back and finished third in MVP voting. But he led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
Los Angeles Lakers Championship Odds
With Luka Doncic in shape, the Lakers are a dangerous team. Even oddmakers believe they are one of the better teams in the Western Conference. In the summer, the Lakers added a couple of players who should fit with Luka and his playing style. First and foremost, they gave him a true center in Deandre Ayton to work with. Then, they added a defensive wing in Marcus Smart, making it easier for Luka to focus on the offensive end.
Right now, the Lakers have the fourth-best odds in the Western Conference, behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and the Houston Rockets. Every team in the Western Conference has improved, but we can make the argument that the Lakers have one of the three best players in the Conference alongside Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
His teammate, Muric, also noted another difference in Luka’s character.
He said, “Yes, every year he’s more vocal and vocal. He is maturing, he’s more experienced. He understands the game better and better every year.”
With LeBron James in a Lakers uniform, LA has plenty of leadership. But it is always good to have your star player being the vocal leader of the team. Last season, Luka was still in shock from the trade. But this season, we can expect him to bounce back and show why he belongs in the top-five players in the league. The Lakers will be happy to have that player on their roster.
© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The post Luka’s Slovenian Teammate Has a Scary Message for the NBA appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.