As Luka Dončić prepares to face the Dallas Mavericks for the first time since being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, the All-NBA guard is making it clear that he took exception to reports questioning his work ethic.
“They have no idea,” Dončić told the Los Angeles Times. “I didn’t end up here by mistake. You know? I worked my ass off to be here. So it’s kinda, I would say, disrespectful, just sad that people say that.”
Luka Dončić Constructed a Personal Team, Dismisses Concerns
Dončić, who had not played since suffering a calf strain on Christmas Day at the time of the Feb. 2 trade, has since been a consistent presence at optional workouts with the Lakers, according to the Times report. That effort has come alongside medical staffers Javier Barrio and Anze Maček, who were brought to Los Angeles as part of Dončić’s personal performance team.
Barrio previously worked with Dončić at Real Madrid, while Maček had ties to the Slovenian national team. Both were originally hired and paid by Dončić after the Mavericks made changes to their health and performance staff prior to the 2023-24 season.
Questions surrounding Dončić’s conditioning surfaced immediately after the trade. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported that the Mavericks had concerns about his physical shape, citing a weigh-in at 255 pounds during a January MRI. The team reportedly viewed his ideal playing weight to be closer to 245.
Shortly after the trade, Dončić acknowledged the criticism but dismissed its validity.
“It’s a motive. I know it’s not true, but it’s a motive,” he said in February. “It’s a big motive for a long run here.”
Since arriving in Los Angeles, Dončić has seen an increase in his workload and production. After playing limited minutes early on, he’s averaged 28.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists over his last 23 games. The Lakers, currently third in the Western Conference, are 16-9 with Dončić in the lineup.
As he prepares to return to American Airlines Center on Wednesday to face his former co-star Anthony Davis and the Mavericks, the 25-year-old is clearly fueled by more than just playoff positioning.
Tipoff between the Lakers and Mavericks is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
