Report: Lakers Believe Luka Doncic’s Best ‘Is Yet To Come’

According to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers believe Luka Doncic‘s best “is yet to come.”

Doncic is only 25. 

“Ask almost anyone around the league, and there’s a strong sense that Doncic’s incredible production is more than enough to justify the Lakers’ move,” Amick wrote. “Lakers sources say there is a strong sense of confidence that Dončić’s best is yet to come, with their internal calculus influenced, in part, by a belief that dates back to Phil Jackson’s days of old.”

Doncic made his Lakers debut on Monday (2/10) against the Utah Jazz. The future Hall of Famer finished with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in 23 minutes while shooting 5-of-14 from the field, 1-of-7 from beyond the arc and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. 

“I mean, special,” Doncic said about his Lakers debut. “The way they received me, everybody, it was amazing to see. I was a little bit nervous before. I don’t remember the last time I was nervous before the game. But once I stepped on the court, it was fun. And just being out there again felt amazing.

“I didn’t play in a long time, first of all. It’s a new team. New everything. But like the way they helped me, teammates, (general manager) Rob (Pelinka), (owner) Jeanie (Buss), it was just a lot of support for me. You could see when I came to the arena, I saw all the Luka jerseys. It was just a surreal feeling.”

Doncic appeared in 422 games with the Dallas Mavericks. He averaged 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists and made five All-Star teams and five All-NBA teams. 

Dallas fans are still mad about the trade, which is something Doncic has noticed. 

“I mean yeah, I saw,” Doncic said. “Obviously I saw the fans. Obviously I really appreciate it. I’ve been there seven years, almost seven years, and it was amazing to experience those fans, the love for me. I’ll always appreciate that. But now I think we should focus on the next step. And the way Lakers fans received me here was amazing.”

The Lakers are 32-19 on the season. They are in fourth place in the West.