Doncic Acknowledges Growing Pains with Lakers: Weve Got to Be Patient

The Los Angeles Lakers had a disappointing start to their games following the All-Star break, as they encountered a setback against the Charlotte Hornets. Luka Doncic finally took the court without any minutes limitation, yet the team could not secure the victory.

The Slovenian sensation, who recently made waves by transferring from the Dallas Mavericks in a landmark trade, narrowly missed a triple-double during his 33 minutes of play, managing only 14 points while shooting 5 for 18 from the field.

Throughout his initial three outings as a Laker, Doncic has averaged 14.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists, considering that he was under a minutes restriction in the first two games. The team’s record stands at 1 win and 2 losses since his arrival.

“Naturally, it will take some time. I was a bit rusty—I started off with four or five turnovers, which is unacceptable. I just need to focus on playing basketball the right way,” Luka reflected after the defeat against the Hornets.

He also discussed the progress of the Lakers’ offense.

“I think it was decent, but we need some time to adapt to the new dynamics. Overall, it went well today. We created a few good scoring opportunities, but unfortunately, we didn’t capitalize—myself included. Just need a bit of time to acclimate.”

In the critical moments of the game, the ball was directed towards LeBron James, yet he missed two crucial chances to level the score as the clock wound down.

“It’s a two-way street—he was in the groove, so we were looking to him. Sometimes it will be his moment, other times it will be mine. It depends on the flow of the game.”

Luka also shared his experience during the All-Star break.

“I took some time off to clear my head from basketball. Missing this much time is a new experience for me. However, I was really looking forward to getting back on the court,” Doncic concluded.