Luka Doncic prioritizes team play: "It's not just about me"
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar did not play against the Golden State Warriors in the second preseason game, and the team felt it.
Los Angeles Lakers paid dearly for not having Luka Doncic just 24 hours after the Slovenian led the victory against the Sacramento Kings. Without their main reference, the Los Angeles team was clearly surpassed by the Golden State Warriors, who won 124-98 at the Chase Center in San Francisco in a new NBA preseason game.
Stephen Curry, Yaxel Lendeborg and Brandin Podziemski were the key players in the Warriors' victory. Curry finished with 16 points, including three three-pointers out of six attempts, in just 14 minutes on the court. Lendeborg contributed 17 points and nine rebounds, while Podziemski added 16 points.
Mamukelashvili leads a Lakers team without their main references
The Lakers' top scorers were Sandro Mamukelashvili with 15 points, Jaden Hardy with 13, Quentin Grimes with 12, and Dalton Knecht with 11.
In addition to Doncic, Los Angeles also did not have Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, and Collin Sexton.
Doncic did not play in the game against Golden State after receiving a thigh bruise. His absence was due to a technical decision, after the Slovenian had returned to the court against Sacramento.
After that game, Doncic acknowledged his satisfaction at being back in competition after several months.
"I felt very good. Basketball is one of the best things in my life and I missed it a lot. I think it has been five or six months. Getting back to playing and competing is really fun for me, and I’m truly happy to be back," he explained.
Thiero shocks with a fall after a spectacular dunk
Adou Thiero also left one of the most striking images of the game. The 22-year-old Lakers forward, standing at 2.01 meters, finished with seven points and four rebounds, but had a spectacular dunk that ended with a dramatic fall.
Thiero, whose vertical leap reaches 117 centimeters, fell onto his right leg in a position that raised concerns about his knee. However, the player was able to continue and later reassured the fans.
"It was a dramatic fall, but I'm fine. I will definitely pay more attention to that, although there are situations where it is difficult to worry about the landing. But, certainly, it’s something I keep in mind," he stated after the game.
The player also explained how he has worked during the summer to improve his jumping ability.
"I've been improving in that aspect over the summer and learning to identify when to use my athletic ability... There are also moments when I can jump surrounded by three players and still manage a dunk. It’s just about having confidence in myself and knowing what I can do in each situation," he noted.
Doncic highlights the collective play of the Lakers
Even though he didn’t play against Golden State, Doncic also referred to the team’s evolution after his return to the court.
"It's not just about me, but how the team feels when playing together. We have shown that we can play very well, especially in the transition from defense to offense, but I feel that we still have a lot of room for improvement. I’m very happy to be part of this team," the Slovenian stated.
The Lakers will have to continue working without their main reference while Doncic recovers from the thigh bruise, after having returned in the preseason and helped the team win against the Kings.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Luka Doncic prioriza el juego colectivo: "No se trata solo de mí"
