What Luka Doncic did for his Lakers teammates was distinctive and totally different however no much less impactful. It was a view contained in the famous person guard’s approach of main the staff.
In a team-building occasion Doncic organized, he took his teammates to a Porsche Driving Expertise after follow Tuesday. He lined the whole value of the occasion by which his teammates examined Porsche fashions on a observe.
That so impressed Lakers middle Deandre Ayton, bringing a smile to his face when requested about Doncic’s gesture.
“I really admire Luka for that,” Ayton mentioned. “I’ve by no means finished that earlier than, the place the star gamers actually look out for the staff like that. One thing like that’s really loopy. I’ve by no means heard of it or been in a Porsche earlier than. So it undoubtedly was my first time. I didn’t know that Luka was into automobiles like that. So, yeah, him and LeBron [James]. It was good seeing them behind the wheel. Seeing LeBron behind a automotive is harmful.”
At 7 ft, Ayton was requested if he was comfy driving the automotive.
“Yeah, that they had some automobiles the place they may maintain a 7-footer,” he mentioned. “I don’t know if it was customized or that’s how they’re made or another components. However simply seeing LeBron James in a sports activities automotive pushing, I used to be like, ‘Yo, he is aware of automobiles.’ Him doing his factor, that was fairly cool to see.”
All summer season and through coaching camp, the Lakers have talked about constructing staff chemistry.
They talked about how doing issues collectively off the court docket is a vital a part of constructing chemistry and of studying a couple of teammate.
Doncic, together with James, is taken into account one among their leaders and this was seen as magnanimous.
“Yeah, I imply, anytime, a few of our max gamers and guys which have been within the league some time can put one thing on for the staff is nice,” Gabe Vincent mentioned. “It’s nice once we come collectively, do one thing a bit bit extra extravagant perhaps than we might have on our personal. Everybody will get to stroll away with some cool [stuff].
“Most significantly, you get to do it collectively, you already know what I imply? Sharing experiences is among the quickest methods to develop nearer. So, we’re very grateful to Luka for placing that one on. Everybody had a good time. It’s been nice to see him get extra comfy.”
Vincent additionally did his half in a team-building second.
Over the summer season, he invited his teammates to the sand dunes in Manhattan Seaside.
It was his present of management after so many exercises and his approach to assist construct that staff chemistry.
“So, I attempted to only get guys collectively, most of them have been younger guys, however simply get out on the sand, play a bit spike ball, and work down the sand a bit bit,” Vincent mentioned. “It’s one thing to get out of this [practice facility] constructing, you already know what I imply? In the summertime, we spend a lot time within the health club, grinding on the similar factor time and again that generally you type of want a change of surroundings. So it’s one thing for us to try this was totally different, one thing for us to do collectively. We had fun with it.”
Ayton getting extra comfy
After two preseason video games and a number of other extra practices, Ayton is beginning to get extra comfy along with his function contained in the Lakers’ offense.
He took extra pictures within the second recreation towards the Warriors, making three of eight from the sector, than within the first recreation towards the Suns, lacking each pictures, and he scored extra factors towards the Warriors (seven) than towards the Suns (two). He blocked two pictures in every recreation and has a complete of 15 rebounds.
“How comfy am I getting? Um, actual comfy, to the place I’m beginning to know their performs and the place the screens are and on the whole, Lakers phrases and Lakers basketball,” he mentioned. “So, it’s changing into fairly simple simply to learn the ground and what [Lakers coach] JJ [Redick] likes and what he needs us to be referred to as, particularly going into our rhythm offense and transition offense. So, yeah, the terminology and all the things is beginning to be simple and I really feel in management on every finish.”
