While Luka Dončić ended the season sidelined with a hamstring strain, the majority of his first full season as a Laker was a success.
Luka was an All-Star and was named the Western Conference Player of the Month twice. He called the team’s run in March when they went 15-2 as special and is a shoo-in to be named an All-NBA player after finishing fourth in MVP voting.
With the season over, Luka discussed his relationship with the franchise during his exit interview.
“I feel very comfortable,” Dončić said.
“I like living here. I like playing for the Lakers. It’s one of the best organizations in the world. Just being a Laker, it means a lot to me. Like I said, I feel very good here.”
It’s not hard to love living in Los Angeles, but it‘s reassuring to hear that Luka is enjoying it.
As the franchise player, Luka’s happiness with the team is the most important thing the Lakers must maintain. So, it should be a relief to fans that all of Dončić’s words and actions indicate he is happy in LA.
Throughout his year and a half with the franchise, Luka has done things big and small to support his teammates and the community he plays in.
He took his teammates to a Porsche Driving Experience during training camp and bought an e-bike for every member of the Lakers organization for the holidays. When Jaxson Hayes was fined for an altercation with Kris Dunn, Luka was glad to pay the fine and support his teammate, having his back.
When tragedy struck LA last year with the wildfires, Luka donated $500,000.
Last summer, when he had the option to either stay under his contract or extend and commit to the Lakers, he chose the latter. And this year, he’s been in regular contact with new majority owner Mark Walter as the team continues to build around Luka.
Many aspects of the Lakers’ roster need to be adjusted to turn them from pretenders to contenders. But the great news is that they have their superstar in place, and he’s happy to call LA his home and the Lakers his team.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
