NBA Notes: Lakers, Luka Doncic, Nets, Michael Porter Jr, Clippers

Lakers

Luka Doncic’s offseason transformation has been one of the league’s biggest storylines, and Lakers assistant Greg St. Jean says LeBron James deserves a lot of credit.

St. Jean told BasketNews that being around James every day pushed Doncic to change his diet and commit to a stricter training routine.

“When you’re around really good players, you can’t help but be motivated to get better at your craft,” St. Jean said. “I know he’s always looked up to LeBron, so having those two together is motivating both ways.”

Doncic has been dominant for Slovenia at EuroBasket, averaging 31.3 points, 8.3 assists and 3.3 steals through four games.

The Lakers have made him the centerpiece, with Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia joining the mix this offseason. Doncic signed a three-year max extension last month worth up to $165.3 million.

Nets

Michael Porter Jr. has never lacked for confidence, and he is putting Stephen Curry in his own category as the only NBA shooter clearly better than him.

“Steph, that’s the only one,” Porter told influencer PlaqueBoyMax. “Klay, KD, Trae, Dame, Duncan Robinson … those guys are on my level. But Steph is the only one clearly better.”

The Nets are banking on that confidence after trading for Porter and his $80 million contract. He’s coming off a season in which he shot 50.4 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from deep with the Nuggets.

Clippers

The Clippers are going on offense over reports of Kawhi Leonard’s $28 million endorsement deal with now-bankrupt Aspiration, a former team sponsor.

ESPN’s Shams Charania relayed an extended team statement Wednesday denying any hint of cap circumvention.

“Neither the Clippers nor Steve Ballmer circumvented the salary cap,” the statement read. “The notion that Steve invested in Aspiration in order to funnel money to Kawhi Leonard is absurd.”

The team pointed to Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg, who pleaded guilty to fraud, and said Ballmer was one of many investors duped.

“Neither Steve nor the Clippers had knowledge of any improper activity,” the statement continued.

The NBA has opened an investigation. Reporter Pablo Torre, who broke the story, has stood by his reporting and pushed back on the Clippers’ rebuttal.