“I told him this morning that I want at least one Blackout Episode where he’s screaming indiscriminately at no one in particular because he’s excited. That means he’s back.” Seeing Luka Doncic struggle in his first three appearances for the Lakers, JJ Redick issued a bold challenge for him before last night’s Nuggets clash, hoping to light a fire. Well, The Slovenian Sensation did not disappoint, as he finally got his groove back and dropped a 32-point double-double to lead his team to victory.
Moreover, he adhered to JJ’s demand of a blackout episode when he hit his signature step-back three in the second quarter and let his emotions out on the court, screaming viciously after the made basket. For Redick and LeBron James, it was a pivotal moment that could put an end to the Lakers’ worries.
Addressing Luka’s breakout game, LeBron said, “Super dialed in. He was very locked in on what he wanted to do out here on the floor tonight. You know once he started hitting those step back threes, he did the yelling and barking either at the fans or at us or at himself. You know he had every right to.” Even JJ was ecstatic to see the “Killer” side of Luka, “I don’t know who he was screaming at but he started screaming. It was great.”
Ever since the trade, there have been concerns about Luka’s happiness in LA, leading to speculations that he might not ink the four-year $229 million extension this summer and skip town. After all, he never said he wanted to be a Laker and was caught off guard when Nico Harrison moved him there. But last night’s performance is a huge confidence booster for the LA franchise, knowing that Doncic’s passion is back and he is finally happy.
Of course, Luka’s excitement is understandable as this was his first 30+ point game wearing the Purple and Gold. And he even talked about it in the post-game presser, “I think you can see it, you know, me smiling on the court, having fun. JJ told me, ‘You gotta have one of that blackout moment you have.’ So, I think I had one. Just felt like me a little bit, so I was happy.” This is a great sign for the Lakers because if Doncic finally gets his magic back, they could turn into legitimate title contenders, motivating him to stay long-term. Moreover, he has already begun working on his shortcomings to prove his commitment to the franchise.
National reporter reveals Luka Doncic’s secret workout to improve conditioning
Well, one of the biggest reasons many believe Nico traded Luka was his lack of conditioning. As skilled as he is, the Slovenian Sensation looked fatigued on many occasions during last year’s run to the NBA Finals. He was also playing through multiple lingering injuries. Even at the time of the trade, he was dealing with a calf injury that he suffered on Christmas Day. But Luka is motivated to beat the allegations as veteran Insider Shams Charania revealed his latest fitness regime, “He has been putting in daily work on the court, in the weight room. Even to the point where he went to Cabo over All-Star break and sources told me, he worked with Scott Brooks every single day while he was there.”
Yes, while the world was enjoying the All-Star festivities, Luka was working on improving his fitness and health. And the results are already showing as he dominated last night and looked very agile on both ends. Redick even praised him after the game, “He was great. He controlled the game when he had the ball in his hands. Made some great decisions… On the other end, it was a top-notch defensive game from him.” Of course, LeBron said something similar, “Yeah. That’s the Luka that we are accustomed to watching over the last seven years.” Things are finally starting to click for Luka and the Lakers, and if this continues, he might not hesitate to sign an extension this summer to build his future with the storied franchise.
