Doncic, without titles since Real Madrid, sends a warning to the Lakers

It’s been a while since Luka Doncicchosen like few others, does not achieve that maximum glory to which players of that caliber are destined. Since leaving the real Madrid in 2018 because the Euroleague had simply become too small for him at 19 years old, the magician from Ljubljana has not conquered any summit, without titles since his arrival in the United States, neither in the NBA nor with Slovenia.

His last trophy with the national team was in 2017, when he won the European Championship with the now Barça coach, Alexander Sekulic as an assistant and then became chief technician. And the most he has achieved in the NBA is the 2024 Finals lost to the Celtics after being champion of the Western Conference, although no real champion in his right mind counts that as a title.

So Doncic is eager to play metal and he has made it known to his Lakers teammates. Anyone who doesn’t come here for the maximum loot can now pack their bags.

“If you don’t think we can win a championship, you shouldn’t be here,” said the ’77’ loud and clear at the Lakers’ Media Day, swept last year by the Oklahoma City Thunder (4-0) in the Conference Semifinals in a playoffs that Doncic could not play due to a hamstring problem.

“Obviously I would like to have the MVP one day, but that doesn’t happen if the team is not good,” added the 27-year-old point guard, who faces his ninth season in the NBA and first dressed in purple and gold without LeBron James.

“I feel very good,” Doncic said when asked about remaining the sole leader with the march of ’23’. “Obviously it is a new challenge, but I have been in this position many times, it is nothing new for me. I feel excited and ready, I have not played basketball for a long time,” explained the Slovenian, who has not competed since the beginning of April, having missed the playoffs due to the aforementioned injury and has not played in the World Cup windows with his team either.

Now without LeBron although with Austin Reaves For yet another year, these Lakers are tailored for the first time, something that adds more pressure for ’77’. It is true that the Los Angeles franchise has lost key complementary pieces such as Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smartbut those same losses have also given him even more roster and salary flexibility to incorporate the players who best fit Luka.

The Lakers have brought in heavyweights for the paint with centers like Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney plus an interior that can alternate in the ‘4’ and ‘5’ like Sandro Mamukelashvili, promising pick and roll partners who come to replace Deandre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura. Defenders have also arrived who are piranhas protecting the perimeter like Matisse Thybulle and Quentin Grimes. Collin Sexton, disciple of Ricky Rubio In the Cavaliers, he is another of the notable additions and will add depth to the point guard position with Bronny James also part of a rotation that will be difficult to enter. Bronny faces his first year on the Lakers without his father.

“There are a lot of underrated guys,” Doncic said of the additions. “We are not afraid of anything, we added great signings and I am excited to play with them,” also highlighted the Slovenian, who spoke about his involvement in making the roster when asked about the conversations with his coach. JJ Redick and the General Manager, Rob Pelinka.

“We talk about what they like, about what I like. Sincere conversations about everything that has to do with the team,” said the ’77’, who organized a stage in Ljubljana for Lakers players in which he had the opportunity to get to know his best teammates better.

The formula that the Los Angeles franchise is betting on this season is somewhat reminiscent of that of the Dallas Mavericks 2024 runners-upwith Luka Doncic hand in hand with another talented outside like Austin Reaves – then it was Irving -, and surrounded by a handful of lob threats and players 3-and-D: Interior threats to crush the rim plus elite defenders and reliable shooters at the same time. Doncic has tools at his disposal to forge that long-awaited first NBA ring and prevent the title drought from going into a decade: from Real Madrid, nothing at all.