The Los Angeles Lakers have secured their future with Luka Doncic, and one of their former champions believes Dallas never deserved him in the first place.
Sasha Vujacic, a two-time NBA champion with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010, recently praised Doncic while also taking a subtle jab at the Mavericks during an interview on ESPN LA.
“100%. And I think that — not to diss Dallas — but I think Luka’s light and capability were way too big for the Dallas spotlight. I think Luka is the perfect guy that we need in L.A. to carry us to that next championship,” Vujacic said. “And I said it a long time ago when I watched him play — there are glimpses I see from Kobe, like in his eyes. He plays with a smile, but he wants to kill you.”
The blockbuster trade that brought Doncic to Los Angeles in February sent shockwaves through the league. The Mavericks shipped Doncic and Markieff Morris to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick. The move not only stunned the NBA but immediately placed L.A. back into the championship conversation alongside veteran superstar LeBron James.
Vujacic said he sees the same killer mentality in Doncic that Kobe Bryant carried throughout his Hall of Fame career.
“There was a saying in our locker room — you smell blood, you go at them — and I think Luka is one of those few individuals in the league that has that demeanor, and has that mindset of trying to go to the next level,” Vujacic said. “I think it’s going to be a fun year, and I’m really happy he’s with us.”
The former Lakers guard also noted that Doncic has already proven his ability to carry a franchise, pointing to Dallas’ Finals run in 2024.
Now with the Lakers, expectations are even higher as the 26-year-old works on his conditioning to stay durable through the grind of an 82-game season.
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