Luka Doncic not worried about ‘conditioning’ concerns
New Lakers superstar Luka Doncic isn’t phased by all the negative comments coming out of Dallas after he was traded in a middle-of-the-night deal on Sunday morning.
Making his first appearance in his new home, Crypto.com Arena, Doncic told TNT’s broadcast of the Lakers-Warriors game on Thursday night, won 120-112 by Los Angeles, that he was accustomed to comments about his conditioning.
“That’s fine, I’ve been questioned many, many times in my life,” said Doncic, who did not play in Los Angeles’ win. Just another motive to be prepared for myself and just take another road. I’ve been questioned a lot, so I’m use to it. But you know, it’s a job, it’s a business and I’m just happy to be here. Play basketball that’s all I want.”
Since the trade occurred, reports have surfaced that the Mavericks had concerns over whether he would be able to live up to his potential due to his conditioning and lifestyle.
ESPN reported Dallas had “major concerns,” and it raised enough questions about whether the Mavericks want to commit to another supermax contract extension.
That hasn’t sat well with some people, including Naismith Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who criticized the Mavericks for what he described as “character assassinations.”
“I was critical of Luka too,” Miller said on NBA TV on Thursday. “I felt that he needed to be in better shape, but I don’t like the character assassination on him floating from the Mavericks—and if it’s coming from the Mavericks—about the reason why we traded him. ‘He wasn’t in great shape, his conditioning, he would never get in shape.’
“You don’t become a First Team All-NBA player five years in a row if you’re not in shape. So please stop the character assassination that this guy is out of shape, he’s lazy.”
None of the chatter has quelled the fan anger in Dallas or dampened the excitement in Los Angeles.
The Lakers introduced their new star to the home crowd on Thursday night during their game against the Warriors.
Doncic was given a rousing applause from the fans in Southern California.
The team’s new intro video has also been updated to include Doncic.
Doncic has been nursing a left calf strain since Christmas Day, and it had been anticipated that he would make his Lakers debut on Saturday, but those plans seemed to have changed, with ESPN reporting that Monday is the new target.
Doncic participated in a 5-on-5 scrimmage Wednesday, and Lakers coach JJ Redick described it as having gone “well.”
“I think [his first game will be] probably, more likely, Monday. Again, no commitment made or anything, but probably trending more towards Monday,” Redick said.
