Luka Doncic hungry for titles after shock Los Angeles Lakers trade

LOS ANGELES – Luka Doncic vowed to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to National Basketball Association (NBA) championship glory at his formal unveiling on Feb 4, following his stunning trade from the Dallas Mavericks.

The 25-year-old Slovenian superstar admitted he was still adjusting to the shock of being moved on by the Mavs, saying he had always believed he would spend his entire career in Dallas.

But he also said that the prospect of playing alongside LeBron James for arguably the NBA’s most iconic franchise represented a “dream come true”.

Talking about the moment he learnt he was being traded on Feb 2, Doncic said he initially had not believed what he was told.

“Everybody else was surprised, so you can imagine how surprised I was,” he said. “I was almost asleep, so when I got the call, I had to check it wasn’t April 1.

“I didn’t really believe it at first, and it was a big shock. (Dallas) was home. So it was really hard. But as I said, I get to play in the greatest club in the world and I’m excited for this new journey.”

Doncic’s exit from the Mavericks – which sent Lakers defensive star Anthony Davis in the opposite direction – is widely regarded as the most jaw-dropping trade in NBA history.

Reports have suggested Dallas opted to trade Doncic after concerns about his fitness and conditioning.

He declined to directly respond to those reports but said he planned to use criticism about his fitness as a motivating force as he embarks on his Lakers career.

“It’s a motive – I know it’s not true – but it’s a motive,” Doncic said. “It’s a big motive for a long run here.”

Asked if he felt he had something to prove in Los Angeles, he added: “Of course. To win the championship. You don’t come here for anything else. I have everything left to prove and the goal is to win the championship.”

Meanwhile, he also revealed that James had been one of the first people to contact him following news of the trade.

“He called me right away,” Doncic said. “We didn’t talk much. He said: ‘I understand what you’re feeling’, but that was really nice of him just to call me right away and welcome me to LA.”

Doncic believes that playing alongside the 40-year-old James would give him the opportunity to learn.

“It’s like a dream come true. I always look up to him. There’s so many things I can learn from him. I’m just excited to learn everything and now I get to play with him. It’s an amazing feeling,” he said.

“I think we both make our teammates better. I think our IQ is very high, so that’s going to help everybody. I’m just excited to work with him.”

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has said that Doncic’s arrival signalled a new era for the club.

“I think Luka Doncic joining forces with the Los Angeles Lakers is a seismic event in NBA history,” he added.

“We have a 25-year-old global superstar that’s going to get on the stage of the most popular and influential basketball brand on the globe. And I think when those two powerful forces come together, it brings basketball joy to the world.”

Pelinka has declined to put a timeframe on when the Lakers debut will come for Doncic, who has not played since injuring his calf during a Dec 25 game.

“We’re going to take it one day at a time just to make sure that the calf injury is in a good and safe place,” he said.

“At this point, he’s day-to-day. If all those days go well and Luka feels good and confident, he’ll be in a game soon.”

Without Doncic, who was on the bench on Feb 4, James scored 26 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out nine assists as the Lakers claimed a convincing 122-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood.

They also got 20 points apiece from Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves, who supplied nine assists. AFP