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Lakers Star ‘Born To Be’ In Los Angeles

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Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic

Pandemonium ensued after the Los Angeles Lakers completed a blockbuster trade agreement for Luka Doncic.

Now that nearly two months have passed since the Dallas Mavericks made what many fear to be a disastrous decision, many people are still talking about it, including Mavs point guard Kyrie Irving and Mavs former majority owner Mark Cuban. However, like Apollo and Dionysus, Irving and Cuban represent two sides of the same coin.

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Both are dismayed by the trade, as much because of their personal relationship with Doncic as the loss of a phenomenal talent.

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Irving is trying to move past the deal. Cuban … well, he’s not. This is but a microcosm of the Mavericks fan base as a whole.

Lakers’ Luka Doncic ‘Born To Be’ In Los Angeles

While the Mavs try to shake back after having the life sucked out of them, the Lakers are trying to build their momentum as well.

Unlike Dallas, L.A. isn’t dealing with a fall out as the aftermath of the trade. Davis’s contributions were appreciated; he helped lead them to a championship after all. Nonetheless, Doncic’s blend of youth, popularity, and ability have allowed him to eclipse the 10-time All-Star.

With that being said, the Lakers are now 11-6 with Doncic. In that time, he’s been quite the volume producer, averaging 26.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Yet, he’s not completely in rhythm, shooting 36.3 percent from 3 but 41.3 percent from the field.

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In the short-term, he needs to balance resting and continuing to work himself back into form after missing two months with a calf injury. However, there’s no doubt about his ability to lead the Lakers long-term.

It’s a good thing that Doncic “was born to be in Los Angeles,” according to his father.

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“This city is made for him and it fits well with his character,” Sasa Doncic adds. “I believe he’ll succeed here.”

Heir Apparent

Doncic doesn’t have to sign an extension with the Lakers. Still, the general consensus is that he will. His father’s comments only make the possibility more realistic.

If the five-time All-Star does decide to stay in Hollywood, as opposed to going to the Mile High for instance, he’ll be able to carry the torch for Los Angeles before the Olympic Games. With that in mind, when the Lakers acquired Doncic, part of their motivation was having a generational star to rely on after LeBron James retires. Though there’s been no official announcement, many people believe that 2025-26 will be his last season.

After that, it’ll no longer be King James’s reign. It’ll be Luka’s magic show.

© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The post Lakers Star ‘Born To Be’ In Los Angeles appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.