Luka Dončić, at his core, is just a fun guy.
Sure, he’s aiming to be the best player he can be and wants to win as many titles as possible with the Lakers. However, he can do that while also having a good time with his teammates.
A notable example of this is his close relationship with Austin Reaves.
The two of them tease each other like they are literal brothers. Luka has made fun of Austin’s haircut on Instagram, Reaves trolled Luka for missing a free throw that would’ve given him a 50-point performance,
and Luka and Reaves have exchanged one-finger salutes you only give to someone you either love or hate.
Clearly, they are closer to love.
Luka doesn’t just get along with Austin, he’s had a good time with all of his teammates.
When he signed his Laker extension, he celebrated by going to a Basketreet Boys concert with a bunch of Lakers players. During training camp, he took the entire team to the Porsche Driving Experience as a team-building exercise.
With the Lakers starting the season 7-2, the vibes have been good all around and Luka is at the forefront of that. After the team’s victory over the Spurs, he talked about enjoying his first full season with his Laker teammates.
“Honestly, the feeling is I’m enjoying very much playing with these guys,” Luka said. “Like you said, AR can’t play, still missing Bron, so this team has big potential. But everybody steps on the court and gives maximum [effort] man. Everybody. So, it’s very enjoyable to play.”
Even when errors occur, Luka plays with unbelievable joy. After Rui Hachimura blew a layup against San Antonio, Luka pretended to be furious at Rui, giving a fake snarl. Once he was done making his faces, he let out a laugh and a big smile.
This happened on a shot that could’ve tied the game in the second quarter. Luka being so chill about the miss demonstrates that even in serious moments, he knows how to have fun.
As the leader of the team, it’s great that Luka can keep a bubbly spirit while also crushing his competition.
He sets the standard and as long as players are playing hard, there is nothing wrong with having fun along the way.
This kind of energy is contagious and can lead to a great locker room atmosphere. By all accounts, it seems like Luka is having a great time as the face of the franchise. He’s laughing and joking with his friends and winning games along the way.
Luka even has fun with head coach JJ Redick. During practices, Luka often trolls Redick. The Lakers shared a clip on social media showing Luka teasing Redick, saying that he needs more sun.
Once LeBron James comes back, expect Luka to have fun with him as well. LeBron is another superstar who knows how to be elite at basketball while also having a good time.
The Lakers having their biggest star in such a good mood and dominating the West is exactly what they want. Let Luka be Luka and let the good times roll.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
