Luka Doncic is still finding his footing with the Los Angeles Lakers, acknowledging that he’s not yet at his best level. After a recent injury and adapting to a new team, he’s expressed the need for time and patience to regain his physical form. “I need a little time, my legs aren’t there yet, it’s costing me a lot,” he said in a press conference following the Lakers’ unexpected 97-100 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
This defeat marked the team’s second loss in a row, with the Lakers struggling to find their rhythm. Doncic, in his third game back after a month and a half off the court due to an injury, admitted to feeling “very rusty” physically. His shots aren’t falling, and he’s making mistakes that he knows can’t happen, like starting the game with four or five turnovers. “That can’t happen,” he emphasized.
The Lakers’ first game after the All-Star break was marred by mistakes, a slow rhythm, and 18 turnovers, with Doncic accounting for six of them. He struggled with his aim, making just 5 of 18 shots and 1 of 9 three-pointers, ending the game with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists in 33 minutes. This was a significant increase in playing time from his previous two games, where he didn’t reach 25 minutes.
Doncic’s performance was a far cry from his usual standard, and he knows it. Despite this, he’s taking it one game at a time, focusing on improvement and moving forward. “But every game is going better, so I’m happy to play another game and move forward,” he said. The Lakers, currently 32-21, will be looking to bounce back from this loss and find their footing in the league.
