Intermittent fasting was paused for a few hours.In Katowice, Poland, while the dishes were being served, including salad for Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss; fish for Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka; and a steak with vegetables and salad for star player Luka Doncic, the Lakers representatives made it clear during a long lunch in late August that if something was important to Doncic, it was also important to them.The 26-year-old player was preparing to test his transformed body, the product of months of intense training and dietary discipline, including a daily 16-hour fast, competing for Slovenia in the EuroBasket, a month before the start of training camp for the upcoming NBA season.The Lakers intended for their backing of Doncic’s participation in the EuroBasket to resonate strongly.
Beyond the opportunity to build trust between the player who signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension on August 2 and the team’s management, the EuroBasket was an opportunity for the organization to establish best practices to align with its new star, something they were unable to do after the shocking February trade with the Dallas Mavericks.Before and after each game, a group chat was established that included Pelinka, Dr. Leroy Sims, Lakers’ director of performance and health, and Lara Beth Seager, Doncic’s brand chief and business manager, along with Javy Barrio, Doncic’s physiotherapist.The Lakers’ general message to Doncic’s team was: “Hey, whatever we can do to help, we’re here,” according to a source close to Doncic.Dr. Sims traveled to Poland, as did Kurt and Linda Rambis, historical figures in the Lakers. Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean joined the Slovenian staff as an assistant and spent 40 days with the team during the tournament with matches in Slovenia, Germany, Poland, and Latvia. The Lakers even made their equipment manager available to Slovenia as a resource when Doncic’s team needed equipment.Doncic’s desire to play for his country and his public dedication to radically transform his physique demonstrated his new level of control over his career, after a transfer that was out of his control.The Lakers knew that, to demonstrate their belief and appreciation for Doncic, they needed to show a corresponding investment.They expect the return to arrive not only in the last days of LeBron James’s era, but to extend far beyond in the role they want Doncic to play for the franchise.While the Lakers cheered him on, Doncic dominated the EuroBasket.He was included in the Ideal Quintet of the tournament and averaged 34.7 points per game, the most for a player in a single EuroBasket since Nikos Galis averaged 35.6 points for Greece in 1989.Doncic scored more points (243) than minutes played (233) and elevated his game in the playoffs, averaging 40.5 points in two elimination games.In Slovenia’s 99-91 loss to Germany in the quarterfinals, the eventual gold medal winner, Doncic’s team led for 26 of the 40 minutes. Germany was behind for only 18 minutes in total in their six tournament games before facing Slovenia.The Lakers’ coaching staff, according to team sources, was impressed with how Doncic moved compared to how he played in the second half of last season, when he was hampered by a calf strain. His improvement was noted in Doncic’s quickness to break double teams. It was noted in his lift off the ground.Even defensively, a problematic aspect in what is already a Hall of Fame-worthy resume was noted.At one point in the tournament, according to sources, St. Jean showed a video edit of Doncic’s defensive effort to Slovenia coach Aleksander Sekulić. St. Jean believed that Doncic, beyond his offensive brilliance, was also the team’s best defensive player. The edit showed, possession by possession, Doncic’s proper positioning, communication with his teammates, and overall commitment.Pelinka also saw it and registered it as a step forward in Doncic’s leadership ability.Luka feels great pride and appreciation for his roots and for playing for his country. In the partnerships we have with our players, the Lakers want to be aware of the players’ passions and who they are as people, and then support them. Around Luka, it was a very easy partnership decision that we wanted to support.
Rob Pelinka
This was part of the cost-benefit analysis that Pelinka considered when supporting Doncic’s participation in the EuroBasket. Yes, more basketball and additional activity could put a player at risk of injury, a fear that materialized when a teammate fell on his leg against Latvia on August 16 and Doncic suffered a contusion on his right knee.Even so, Pelinka said he would make the same decision.Players playing basketball in the offseason is something that, from a leadership perspective, I support. I think it could be said in a sense that part of the offseason and the current focus of basketball, especially in the United States, is focused on individual work. And I think that kind of team environment can be lost.
Rob Pelinka
With the start of training camp at the end of this month, Doncic and the Lakers see their EuroBasket summer as a perfect preparation for the upcoming season.Doncic led a Slovenian team full of players, mostly with talent below the Division I NCAA level, to the quarterfinals of one of the most competitive tournaments in the world. What could he do in a full season, with LeBron James and Austin Reaves?While Doncic and the Lakers used the summer to demonstrate their mutual commitment, the season will bring new challenges to meet each other’s expectations.Doncic has had difficulty maintaining healthy habits within the rigors of an 82-game season, constant travel, and managing the stress that comes from losses (or even the joys of victories). And for Pelinka and the Lakers, it’s one thing to put together an international itinerary; it’s quite another to put together a deal to improve this star-studded roster and determine the trade assets to do so.Even so, summer provided a stable base before any rocky terrain that both sides might have to navigate.The experience, Doncic said, already made him feel more connected to Los Angeles.There is risk in everything. There are risks in overly individualized training and in wearing down the muscles that way, or the joints that way. Luka is incredibly thoughtful about how he approaches his way of improving as a basketball player. And I think you can say that he is the highest form of himself when he is in a competitive environment. That’s what encourages him.
Rob Pelinka
And Doncic’s game was a reminder to the Lakers that there is no time to waste waiting for LeBron’s era to end before building Luka’s.The support from the Lakers organization and the Laker Nation was incredible. It meant a lot to me that Rob, Jeanie, Kurt, Linda, and Dr. Sims came to Poland and that the Lakers fans were watching the EuroBasket and cheering for Slovenia.
Luka Doncic
L.A. will begin training camp with 14 players on the roster, including Rui Hachimura ($18.3 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), and Maxi Kleber ($11 million) with expiring contracts. They can include one of their first-round picks from 2031 or 2032 in a potential deal. And with Doncic signed long-term, the Lakers are open to signing a player with a contract that extends beyond 2026.Luka’s game at the EuroBasket made it clear to everyone in basketball that he is on that incredibly short list of candidates for “best player on the planet”, if not at the top. In terms of team building, we have talked about the importance of having optionality and when I use that word, it’s not to say in the future. I think optionality is also in the now. Having both Luka and possibly the best player on the planet like LeBron James, who is still in the mix of being one of the great players of our game, even at his age, continues to allow us to think carefully about the value of that optionality.
Rob Pelinka
After this summer of equal investment towards that goal, there is certainly an alignment.If there are smart ways to invest in our championship aspirations for next year, we will execute them. And we see having those two players on our team next year [as] an important moment, and we will continue to try to do everything possible to deliver this franchise its 18th championship.
Rob Pelinka
He emphasizes every day that his goal is to win a championship. He trusts the front office to do their part and trusts what they are building.
Source close to Doncic
