Two days after the trade that shook the basketball world, the Los Angeles Lakers officially introduced Luka Dončić, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, to the media on Tuesday. While initially surprised by the move, Dončić expressed growing excitement about joining the Lakers, particularly the opportunity to play alongside his childhood idol, LeBron James.
“Honestly, it was hard at first. That first day was really hard. I felt like these last 48 hours was one month. Emotionally, it was really hard, but today was much better. This is the Lakers. It’s one of the best clubs in history, so I’m excited to be here.”
– Luka Dončić
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, who orchestrated the trade with the Dallas Mavericks, was visibly thrilled about bringing Dončić to L.A. When asked about Dončić’s debut, Pelinka stated that the All-Star guard would participate in full-contact practice before determining when he will take the court in purple and gold.
Dončić was already getting acclimated on Tuesday night, sitting courtside as the Lakers secured a win over the Clippers. LeBron James, eager to begin this new chapter, kept it simple when asked about the pairing: “It’s gonna be special.”