Luka Doncic played his third game with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night against the Charlotte Hornets, but struggled with his shooting. The Slovenian superstar scored 14 points on 5-of-18 shooting, including a 1-for-9 performance on 3-point attempts. Doncic also led the team in rebounds and had an impressive plus-13 rating despite committing six turnovers.
The Lakers are confident that Doncic will find his rhythm soon. “Obviously, it’s going to take a little time,” Doncic said. “Today, a lot of rustiness from my part.” Teammate LeBron James added, “He still doesn’t know all the plays… We’re trying to fast-track it on the fly.”
Doncic’s rough start is not surprising, given that he missed six 1/2 weeks due to a calf strain. The Lakers eased him back into competition with limited minutes, and he has since logged several days of recovery.
Despite the loss, Doncic remains optimistic about his future with the team. “This is one of the greatest clubs in the world, and I’m just happy to be here,” he said. The Lakers have a busy schedule ahead, including games against the Trail Blazers on Thursday and the Mavericks on Tuesday.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/lakers-luka-doncic-e0a26be43427e221cf7a93a6bc83a1c6