Luka Doncic waiting, not again, in the signature of the extension with the Lakers

El Segundo, California – A year ago, Luka Doncic could not have imagined this moment. He expected to follow Dirk Nowitzki’s steps as a maverick for life. Instead, there was Saturday in the Lakers test structure, wearing a dress and having just signed an extension of the contract, talking about chasing a ring in purple and gold
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It may be used a minute to get there After a mid -season shocking tradeBut now Doncic is where he wants to be – in Los Angeles, with the Lakers.

“I was thinking, obviously not at the moment I was mistaken, but later when I started playing, I wanted to be here,” said Doncic. “As I said, this is an extraordinary organization. We have mutual trust, so honestly, I decided quite quickly.”

After making that mental decision there was not a lot of drama preceding Saturday, when Doncic chose the Lakers, Put his signature on an extension of the maximum contract of three years It could be worth up to $ 165 million (but more likely it ends for about $ 160.8 million, based on the projections of the NBA salary limit).

“Six months ago, the Los Angeles Lakers have chosen Luka Doncic through an exchange where he arrived at our franchise,” said the Lakers GM Rob Pelinka. “Today Luka Doncic has chosen the Los Angeles Lakers.”

Luka “Skinny”

The speech on the offseason of the Lakers was not the extension of the Doncic contract, but his body of post-commercial-doncic revenge seems considerably more subtle and conditioned, even when wearing a dress.

Doncic spoke of his process in this low season.

“For the first month, I didn’t play basketball at all,” said Doncic of his conditioning plan, echoing what he said to Men’s Health Magazine. “We were more concentrated on other things. So I think that type of unleashed, the first five days were really difficult without basketball. In reality I didn’t know what to do, but after it was easier. But physically, weight lifting, balance, those things and then after a month we started playing basketball.”

As for the trade that triggered a transformation of the “body of revenge”, Doncic tried to evade the idea.

“I would say only, it was like a new start for me,” said Doncic. “Obviously, I was on my way of doing it [already]But it was only a new beginning. I had a little more time to have my mind on basketball, doing only other things. So, I would only say a new start for me. “

Doncic Talks titles

It is difficult to escape history in the lakers’ practice structure. The banners of the 17 NBA titles of the team hang on the shorts, while the walls are flanked by retired names and numbers of the legends of the Hall of Fame Lakers: Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and many others.

Doncic does not avoid this, he protrudes in it, saying that one day he wants to add to the banners and see his name on the wall of this structure.

He also thinks that this Lakers list has the opportunity to be special.

“Honestly, I think we have a great team,” said Doncic. “We have what we need to compete for the championship. I will bring everything I can … we have some new fantastic guys in the team. We will do it.”

The Lakers, who for years had tried to build a list to maximize the skill set of Lebron James, moved to build around Doncic after trade. This meant bringing to a center of rims this summer and trying to add wings 3 & d who can break down the blows and sweep the floor, taking advantage of the mastery of Doncic’s pick-and-rock.

“In conversations with Luka, it was really important for us to get a center of Lob catches,” said Pelinka. “And we want to become Deandre Ayton has been huge. He will have so much unlocking in Luka’s game. As you can say in the pick-and-round readings, he is the best in the world and I think Deandre will really help you.

“And then, our thesis for our list was to become younger. And I think getting some 3 & D players like Jake Laravia that we could add at its age [23]42% shooter [from 3]Having wings that can shoot and play on both sides of the ball, I think it’s also really important. And then be able to add Marcus Smart, defensive of the year a couple of years ago. I think there is a chip on his shoulder to return to that level and put the league.

“I think having players like the one surrounding both Luka and Lebron, guys who can defend multiple positions is really important. So we like the updates that we have been able to make to the roster.”
If those updates are sufficient in a captivating western conference takes place when the NBA season will open in 80 days.

In the short term, after a night that celebrated this new contract (saying that it was a “surprise” what was scheduled for him), Doncic started in Slovenia to compete with his national team at Eurobasket. Doncic’s love for his country and his passion for
Representing it should never be questioned.

Now, nor his desire to be a Laker – now he has chosen them.