Luka Doncic is entering his first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and according to assistant coach Greg St. Jean, Lebron James deserves credit for helping the Slovenian superstar transform his body.
“You know? I always find this – iron-cut iron,” St. Jean told BasketNews. “When the players around you are really good, it’s like when you’re a coach and you’re really good. You can’t help but have the motivation to keep getting better.
“I think Luka has learned a little from every great player around. And I know he always looks up to LeBron.
“He’s always been someone he really admires. So I think it’s obvious that there’s motivation to bring these two people together. I think it’s also a two-way motivation. I think it’s just a one-way street.”
The 26-year-old Guard made a dramatic turn this summer, reportedly dropping more than 31 pounds. His dedication comes months after he traded from the Dallas Mavericks to Los Angeles in February, now he shares floors with 40-year-old James.
“I think LeBron is working very hard, too. He gets up at 5 a.m. and he works on his body, too.” “So, I think our team and our players – not only about these two guys, but I think everyone has the motivation to come back and have a really good season.”
Through three Eurobasket 2025 games, Doncic averaged 33.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 3.3 steals. He also became the fifth player in history to record a triple-double at Eurobasket, joining Stojko Vrankovic, Toni Kukoc, Rares Mandache and Mateusz Ponitka.
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