Luka Doncic wasted no time influencing the Los Angeles Lakers. Since joining for the Dallas Mavericks, he has proven to be a key part of the team’s success. Lakers legendary Magic Johnson believes Donsic’s role will become even more important in the coming years, especially as the franchise prepares life after LeBron James.
Speaking about Byron Scott’s fast break, Johnson emphasized the importance of Donsic’s presence.
“It’s great that LeBron is ready to take over someone when he eventually retires. Luka ensures that the Lakers don’t have to look for their next superstar,” Johnson said.
The Lakers have faced a similar transition before. After Johnson left, the team took years to find Kobe Bryant as a new leader, and the gap between Kobe’s retirement and LeBron’s arrival was equally challenging. With Doncic already in place, the transition to the next era should be much smoother.
The chemistry of Donsic’s court with James was a major factor in the Lakers’ success. Johnson noted how their playmaking abilities enhance the overall team.
“Opposites need to worry about two great passersby that everyone makes better. That’s a dangerous combination.”
Learn from Lakers’ history to face future challenges
Looking back at his time with the Lakers, Johnson shared insights from his Showtime era. He explained how he and his teammates studied the weaknesses of their enemies and misused them. The Lakers today are the strategies they need in the playoffs.
“We used to hold meetings where we destroy teams and attack them in the weakest places, which is what the Lakers have to get to playoff time,” he explained.
One of the key challenges is defensive matchups. Johnson noted that Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown repeatedly attacked Donsic and Austin Reeves in the Boston Celtics’ recent loss. “They saw their weaknesses and chased all the plays, which is something the Lakers need to deal with,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Donsic continues to make history. In his most recent game against the Denver Nuggets, he scored 21 points in the first quarter alone and became the youngest Lakers point guard to drop more than 20 points in the quarter. His elite playmaking compares to Johnson himself as worthy of NBA Hall of Fame James.
“No one has ever seen control of a game like this since the magic.”
Doncic leads, and the Lakers position themselves for long-term success. As they prepare for their next game with the Milwaukee Bucks, fans are looking forward to seeing the Slovenian star continue to rule with purple and gold.
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