Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic has made it very clear that his goal is to bring this franchise another NBA Championship and he is extremely focused on doing just that. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have interests outside of that and one important one is franchise ownership.
Doncic is part of an investment group that purchased northern Italian basketball team Vanoli Cremona, fulfilling a dream he has always had of owning a basketball team in Europe. But his ownership responsibilities will not take away from winning a championship with the Lakers being his primary goal, via Tania Ganguli of the New York Times:
“Obviously I’ve started thinking a little bit,” Mr. Doncic said. “But I’m a Laker, and winning the championship right now is the most important thing for me.”
Doncic takes team ownership seriously and has said that he wants to be a hands-on owner who can build the organization for many years to come. The plan is to move Vanoli Cremona to Rome and be that city’s representative for the NBA’s proposed European league that could start as soon as next season, with them already submitting a bid to do just that.
But regardless of the outcome, Doncic is still primarily focused on his playing career and winning at the highest level with the Lakers. He already feels the team wasn’t far off this season with how well they were playing in March before injuries to himself and Austin Reaves changed the course of everything. And he has been in regular communication with the Lakers’ ownership and front office on how to best build a team around him this offseason.
These days players are more than just athletes who thrive on the court, but they are businessmen and a brand with numerous interests off the court as well. Doncic is realizing a dream in owning a basketball team in Europe where his career began, but that won’t take his eyes off his main prize, which is lifting that Larry O’Brien in the purple and gold.
Rob Pelinka believes March was ‘proof of concept’ for Lakers
The Lakers’ run in March was outstanding with Doncic leading the way and the team looking like one of the best in the entire NBA. And Rob Pelinka believes that is a proof of concept of how this team can be successful on the court with the front office viewing what worked as they look to build out this roster in the offseason.
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