Luka Doncic has shortly constructed a repute as one of many NBA’s most dominant and inventive offensive gamers, however the Los Angeles Lakers celebrity just lately revealed that his transition to the league was removed from easy.
Regardless of now proudly owning 5 All-Star appearances, 5 All-NBA alternatives and a scoring title earlier than turning 27, Doncic admitted he briefly questioned whether or not he belonged at basketball’s highest degree.
The Slovenian phenom entered the NBA with important expectations after starring professionally in Europe for Actual Madrid. Doncic signed with the Spanish powerhouse at simply 13 years previous earlier than creating into probably the most adorned teenage prospects in worldwide basketball.
Nevertheless, as soon as he arrived within the NBA, the adjustment proved harder than he anticipated.
“I feel I used to be like first 5, six video games, you recognize, I used to be sort of nervous,” Doncic admitted when reflecting on his rookie season. “Stated like possibly this isn’t for me, cuz I — I wasn’t — like first 5 video games, I feel I used to be horrible.”
Whereas Doncic was essential of his personal efficiency, his debut numbers nonetheless confirmed flashes of potential.
He completed his first NBA sport with 10 factors, 8 rebounds and 4 assists however struggled to search out rhythm offensively, 5-16 and committing 4 turnovers throughout a loss to the Phoenix Suns.
He defined that adapting to the general expertise and bodily calls for of the NBA was the largest problem after arriving from Europe.
“I’d say two issues essentially the most. Like clearly, the expertise. The expertise is — it’s loopy within the NBA. After which the physicality,” Doncic mentioned.
Doncic finally relied on confidence and familiarity along with his type of play to beat his early struggles.
“So, however then it was like simply — I advised myself, like, simply keep in mind the way you play and also you simply translate your sport from Europe to right here,” he mentioned. “And I all the time discuss having enjoyable on court docket. Smiling. And that’s — that’s actually true for me.”
READ MORE: NBA Points A number of Suspensions After Pistons-Hornets Brawl
