In his first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Luka Doncic put forth what was arguably the greatest season of his career. Doncic led the NBA in scoring and was an MVP contender while being an All-NBA First Team selection. But unfortunately his year was cut short thanks to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that forced him to miss the end of the regular season and all of the playoffs.
Doncic has spent much of his offseason in Slovenia, spending time with his daughters, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been preparing for the upcoming season as well. And the Lakers superstar recently let everyone know that he is completely healthy and recovered from that hamstring injury.
“I took a real break from basketball the first few weeks after the season ended to rehab my body,” Doncic said in an email to fans, via Dan Woike of The Athletic. “My recovery went great, and I’m 100% healthy again.”
“Taking some time away from basketball is something I do at the start of every offseason. It’s a different way to do things, but it works for me. When I let myself miss the game a little bit and try some new things, it only makes me more excited and motivated to get back to playing.”
“I’ve been back in the gym full time for a few months now. My days have been a mix of strength training, conditioning, and on-court work that’s preparing me for next season.”
Taking time away from the game is often needed as players dedicate so much of their life to basketball and putting focus towards family and other things can make you miss the game and thus get even more motivated when you return to it, as Doncic pointed out. Now, the Lakers superstar is locked in and ready to lead this new look Lakers team next season.
Doncic looks to be in perhaps even better shape than he was last season and he is embracing his role as the leader and face of this franchise. And with him being fully recovered, he will look to hit the ground running once the Lakers return to the court.
Rick Carlisle compares Luka Doncic to Magic Johnson
Doncic has been one of the best players in the league from the moment he came over to the NBA and that was apparent to his first coach, Rick Carlisle. The former Mavericks coach, who now coaches the Indiana Pacers, spoke about the first time Doncic scrimmaged in Dallas and compared him to Lakers legend Magic Johnson.
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