‘Excited’ Luka Doncic aiming high for season ahead with LA Lakers

Slovenian Luka Doncic, star of the Los Angeles Lakers, admitted that arriving at the LA franchise mid-season last year was “complicated” and that having the opportunity to work alongside the rest of his teammates in the preseason will provide many benefits to his team.

He did so at the Lakers’ NBA media day in Los Angeles prior to the season’s start on October 21. "We didn’t have a lot of time last season, and that’s why the preseason is important, to get to know everyone, to see what people like.We’ll have a lot of workouts and I’m excited," Doncic said.

“I’m excited to play for the Lakers. When you join a new franchise midseason, it’s difficult, but the preseason will help a lot. I feel great and I’m eager to get started. When last season ended, I was eager to get going again. I feel very good and ready for this season,” he insisted.

Doncic is back in Los Angeles after the Eurobasket with Slovenia and is part of a team that has been reinforced by Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, among others, for the new season. “We’ve added some good pieces, I’m excited. I’m happy to have teammates who were tough opponents for me in the past,” he said.

In particular, Doncic expressed his satisfaction with the addition of a center like Ayton: “We were in the same draft, I was happy when they told me they would sign him.” “I’m excited to have him on my team,” he stated.

The Slovenian also expressed strong approval for head coach Reddick securing a contract extension, saying, “It was great to work with JJ. Hopefully, we can work till the end of my career. I just love him as my coach. He will tell you anything. Just the approach to the game with him, it’s unbelievable. I’m very excited that he’s my coach.”

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