Luka Doncic is entering a new era of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers — and he’s doing it alongside one of the most iconic players in NBA history. The generational talent, previously the face of the Dallas Mavericks, was traded to the Lakers in a blockbuster offseason deal and now finds himself sharing the court with LeBron James.
In a recent episode of Mind the Game, Doncic opened up about what it’s been like to play with the four-time NBA champion. “I mean, it’s great. You see, I’ve never played with a guy like this,” Doncic said. “And, you know, just being traded here to L.A., it was different. But just to play with guys like him — it’s unbelievable.”
He’s not wrong. Doncic has played with elite talent before — Dirk Nowitzki in the twilight of his career, Kyrie Irving during his brief stint in Dallas, and even Klay Thompson. But none of those names quite measure up to the magnitude of sharing a team with LeBron James.
“Like, I could learn so many things,” Doncic continued. “First of all, off the court — all the things he does just to be ready for the game. And obviously on the court, everybody knows what kind of player he is.”
LeBron James #23 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the third quarter of a game against the Utah Jazz.
That level of preparation is one of the many things that sets LeBron apart, according to Doncic. When co-host Steve Nash asked for a specific example, Luka couldn’t help but laugh.
see also
Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe drops bold take on Lakers star’s future amid trade speculations
“Well, first of all, he shows up like 10 hours before the game,” Doncic said. “So that was really the main thing. I was like, what? I came to the arena, and he was already done working out. I was like, what?”
In the same interview, Doncic also touched on his love for basketball, comparing it to the other sports he played as a kid. While the full episode is set to air Sunday, a preview clip released on X (formerly Twitter) already generated buzz.
“For me, I wasn’t really great at any other sport — except soccer,” Doncic told Nash with a smile. “I wasn’t like you, obviously, but I did play a lot of sports growing up. Tennis, soccer, basketball… even volleyball. For me, it was just about enjoying being outside and playing after school. I was always active.”
Doncic also reflected on his earliest basketball memories growing up in Slovenia, long before his NBA stardom. He revealed that his love for the game began during his time as a ball boy for EuroLeague club Olimpija.
see also
LeBron James has reportedly decided his future with the Lakers for next NBA season
“I went to the games and ended up being a ball boy,” he said. “We were allowed to shoot before the game, at halftime, and even afterward. That’s how I really fell in love with the game. It gave me a chance to be around the court all the time.”
