Luka Doncic has found new energy in Los Angeles
Luka Doncic is lighting up the City of Angels in a way no one quite expected. Since his unexpected trade to the Lakers, Doncic has defied expectations, offering a reminder of what makes him one of the league's premier players. Dan Devine and Tom Haberstroh discussed this development on their podcast, "The Big Number," drawing connections between Luka's performance and the Lakers' future.
There was some skepticism when Luka was traded to Los Angeles, especially with his defensive struggles. However, of late Doncic has been nothing short of transformative, breathing new life into a storied Lakers franchise. "It's been jaw-dropping," Haberstroh said.
Since joining the Lakers, Doncic has helped the Lakers to a defensive rating that's eclipsed what the team previously managed even with Anthony Davis on the court. Does this demonstrate his commitment to both ends of the floor, shattering the myth of his one-dimensional play?
His arrival in LA under head coach JJ Redick's tutelage has bolstered the Lakers' outlook across the board. Luka's no-look pass to Austin Reaves exemplifies the instinctive brilliance he brings, keeping opponents on their toes.
It's those very instincts that have rekindled the Lakers' hopes. Devine emphasized that the Lakers' post-trade surge is about more than one player: 'The blueprint of a switchable, big, and physical defense ... can compete right now.'
If Doncic sustains this level of play while paired with LeBron James, they could guide the Lakers deeper into the postseason. Luka's story in LA is only just beginning, and the spotlight doesn't look to be fading anytime soon. Could this be the spark for another Lakers dynasty?
For more NBA discussion, tune into "The Big Number" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Lakers jersey history No. 1 — Wes Matthews
Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary. As the Lakers approach their 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years. This article takes a look at Wes Matthews, a guard who played for the Lakers during the Showtime era. Matthews played three years of college basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and was taken with the No. 14 pick in the 1980 NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets. As a rookie, he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks and averaged 12.4 points and 5.2 assists a game. He ended up bouncing around the league, mostly as a reserve, over the next several years. In October 1986, the Lakers, needing some backcourt depth, signed Matthews as a free agent. The Lakers already had Hall of Famer Michael Cooper, who played both guard spots and small forward, but they also needed some added insurance at the point guard spot. Matthews didn't play much, but he averaged 4.9 points and 2.4 assists in 12.3 minutes a game during two seasons with the team. He was very lucky with his timing, as Los Angeles won the NBA championship during both of those seasons. Matthews moved on to the now-defunct Continental Basketball Association, where he won a league championship with the Tulsa Fast Breakers during the 1988-89 campaign. In the fourth and final game of the championship series, he hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Tulsa the title. That meant Matthews had won championships in three straight seasons of pro basketball. Meanwhile, the Lakers went after a third straight title that same year, only to get swept by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals after Byron Scott and Magic Johnson injured their hamstrings. Matthews would appear in one game with the Hawks during the 1989-90 season to close out his NBA career. His son Wesley would play 15 seasons in the league, including one with the Lakers.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Nikola Jokic's Agent Posts Cryptic LeBron James Message After Meetup
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. There's been plenty of speculation about the NBA future of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James this offseason, and things took a wild new turn on Saturday. The 40-year-old James, who exercised his $52.6 million player option earlier this offseason, has made it known through his agent Rich Paul that he wants to win at least one more championship before he retires. "LeBron wants to compete for a championship," Paul said, via Yahoo Sports. "He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. "... We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him." LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers holds the ball during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Arena on March 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers holds the ball during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Arena on March 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, Basketball: Warriors' Steph Curry Reveals Surprising Bronny James Revelation There have been several conflicting reports this offseason about where James will ultimately end up, and things got a little more interesting over the weekend when James was photographed on a yacht with Misko Raznatovic, the agent for Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. What made things even more intriguing is the caption Raznatovic posted on his Instagram account along with the photo. "The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026! @kingjames @mavcarter," Raznatovic wrote. More Basketball: Angel Reese Sends Clear Message to WNBA About Salary Negotiations The cryptic post has several NBA fans buzzing about the possibility of a James-Jokic team up in Denver in 2026, especially given the number of reports that indicate the Lakers don't have much interest in keeping James around beyond next season. Many analysts believe the likeliest scenario for James sees him playing 2025 in Los Angeles with a revamped Lakers roster that already featured Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura and added Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia, before moving onto a new team in 2026. Despite being the oldest player in the NBA, James is still one of the most productive players in the game. He ranked 13th in the league in scoring (24.4 points per game), and finished sixth in assists (8.2 per game) and 22nd in rebounds (7.8 per game) in 2024.
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
Marcus Smart on what JJ Redick told him upon signing with Lakers
It is predicted by plenty of people that Marcus Smart will have a significant impact on the Los Angeles Lakers this coming season. Smart has long been one of the NBA's best and peskiest perimeter defenders, as he was named to the All-Defensive first team three times and won the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year award, and perimeter defense happens to be something the Lakers have been lacking. At age 31, Smart may not be the same player he was three years ago, and he has had trouble staying healthy over the last couple of years. But he said he is highly motivated going into the 2025-26 season, and he relayed that Lakers coach JJ Redick wants him to get back to the player he was with the Boston Celtics before they traded him in 2023. 'JJ just wants me to be me. The person that I was in Boston, the person that he played against and had me chasing around when he was on the court playing. So that's all he asked me and I think I could do that to the best of my ability with the best of them because like I said I have a chip on my shoulder and I'm ready to go.' In his first nine seasons, all of which came with the Celtics, Smart was a big glue guy, as he not only was a defensive menace but was also a terrific secondary facilitator and ball handler, as well as someone who was very resourceful. He can effectively guard at least three positions on the court, and his experience in appearing in the Eastern Conference finals five times and the NBA Finals once will help a Lakers team that has had trouble becoming an elite team again. Smart has career averages of 10.6 points, 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals a game. He isn't a reliable 3-point shooter, but after signing a two-year, $10.5 million contract with L.A., he should provide the squad with good, if not great, value.
