Luka Doncic continues to assume a larger leadership role for the Los Angeles Lakers, both in performance and presence, and that growth was on display even in a recent loss on the second night of a back-to-back. Head coach JJ Redick pointed to Doncic‘s demeanor as a defining factor.
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“He had the requisite disposition of leadership tonight,” Redick said. “His body language, his confidence, gave his teammates confidence.” Luka‘s competitive nature is well known, and losing rarely sits well with him regardless of the setting. Still, he found positives in the Lakers‘ effort despite missing key players.
“I think everybody should be proud,” Doncic said. “We fought really hard against a great team, missing some players. We had some great shots we could have knocked down, but we didn’t. We were in the game most of the game. I think since Christmas, it’s been better. We’re working on ourselves, and we’re getting better every game.”
Doncic keeps pushing his teammates
Even in defeat, Doncic worked to keep the group organized, especially with LeBron James and Austin Reaves sidelined. “With LeBron and AR being out, Luka had to control the game a little bit more than he’s done with those guys out there,” teammate Jake LaRavia said.
“He grabbed the whiteboard during a timeout and was talking to us about where to be when San Antonio was firing and blitzing him. He’s done a great job all year of being a leader.” That leadership has been matched by elite production.
Doncic currently leads the NBA in scoring at 33.3 points per game while also ranking fourth in assists at 8.8 and averaging 8 rebounds. His ability to carry the offense has been central to the Lakers‘ push as the season moves toward the All-Star break.
The leading-vote getter among players
Earlier this week, Doncic received another reminder of how far his influence extends. On Tuesday afternoon, he learned that he was the leading vote-getter among all NBA players for the upcoming All-Star Game, a moment he described as deeply humbling.
“Honestly it does,” Doncic said when asked if the recognition made him feel appreciated. “It’s the first time that’s happened to me. It’s pretty amazing. Just a kid from Slovenia can only dream about being in the NBA. I really appreciate all the votes, and to see that definitely hit me.”
Teammates echoed that sentiment. Gabe Vincent called the accomplishment “amazing,” pointing to Doncic‘s nightly effort and competitiveness as the foundation for his popularity. LaRavia also said the response from fans was expected, even if the total of 2,229,811 votes stood out. Redick noted that Luka‘s popularity reflects both his individual stature and the global reach of the Lakers.
