Luka Dončić has been a number one matter of dialog across the NBA ever since he arrived within the 2018 draft, however this 12 months has thrust him additional into the highlight after the Mavericks made the stunning resolution to commerce him to the Lakers forward of the deadline.
After the commerce, experiences surfaced that the Mavs had been sad along with his conditioning, and Dončić seemingly took these feedback as motivation to get in good condition this summer season. That features enjoying for Slovenia this summer season in EuroBasket, also called the European Basketball Championship, which is the primary worldwide basketball competitors that’s held each 4 years. On Saturday, a slimmed-down Dončić was in motion in opposition to Kristaps Porzingis and Latvia in a warm-up exhibition.
Dončić had it rolling out of the gates, scoring 15 factors within the first quarter as he cooked the Latvia protection and had his 3-point shot dialed in, placing his full skills on show within the early going.
Dončić completed the primary half with 26 factors, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and two steals in 17 minutes of motion.
It does not appear as if he must shake off a lot rust — the EuroBasket event begins Aug. 27 — as he had all of it engaged on Saturday. Lakers followers must be thrilled with how the all of a sudden slender Dončić seems on the court docket right here.
That mentioned, nobody loved seeing Dončić limp off the ground after a teammate landed on him underneath the basket. Here is the play:
Dončić limped off the court docket and was in a position to stroll on his personal into the locker room. He didn’t return to motion on Saturday. Dončić was identified with a proper knee contusion, based on NBA Insider Marc Stein. Nonetheless, the harm is just not thought of severe, as Dončić is anticipated to play in EuroBasket when the event begins in two weeks.
Dončić has a historical past of assorted accidents, notably to his left leg, together with calf strains and contusions, in addition to ankle and knee points. He missed a month final season with a left calf pressure forward of the Lakers’ postseason run.
