Luka Dončić has been a prominent figure in discussions concerning the NBA since his arrival in the 2018 draft. This year, he has garnered even more attention following a surprising decision by the Mavericks to send him to the Lakers before the trade deadline.
Following the trade, accounts emerged suggesting dissatisfaction within the Mavs organization regarding his physical condition. Dončić appeared to interpret these comments as a challenge, prompting him to prioritize improving his fitness during the summer. This included representing Slovenia in EuroBasket, formally recognized as the European Basketball Championship, a significant international basketball tournament held quadrennially. On Saturday, a visibly leaner Dončić participated in a pre-tournament exhibition game against Kristaps Porzingis and Latvia.
Dončić quickly established his dominance, accumulating 15 points in the opening quarter. He effectively dismantled the Latvian defense, showcasing his accurate 3-point shooting and demonstrating his diverse skill set early in the game.
Dončić concluded the first half with an impressive stat line of 26 points, five assists, four rebounds, and two steals in just 17 minutes of play.
It seems he doesn’t require much preparation — the EuroBasket tournament commences on Aug. 27 — as he displayed a well-rounded performance on Saturday. Lakers followers are likely delighted with the improved physical appearance and on-court performance of Dončić.
However, concerns arose when Dončić was observed limping off the court after an accidental collision with a teammate under the basket. Here’s the event:
Dončić departed the court with a limp, managing to walk independently into the locker room. He did not participate further in Saturday’s game. Dončić received a diagnosis of a right knee contusion, according to insights from NBA insider Marc Stein. Despite this, the injury is not considered serious, and Dončić is anticipated to participate in EuroBasket when the competition commences in two weeks.
Dončić has experienced a history of various injuries, particularly affecting his left leg. These include calf strains and contusions, along with issues involving his ankle and knee. He was sidelined for a month during the previous season due to a left calf strain, preceding the Lakers’ postseason campaign.
