Luka Doncic didn’t imagine finishing this NBA season anywhere but Dallas, but that’s not how things turned out. He was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in February in a blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis the other way.
Doncic went on to play 33 games for the Lakers between the regular season and playoffs before he and teammate LeBron James were knocked out in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Across those five playoff games, the 26-year-old, five-time NBA All-Star averaged 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.
Recently, Doncic appeared on “Mind the Game,” a podcast hosted by James and NBA legend Steve Nash. They discussed numerous topics, including how he’s adjusting to life in Los Angeles after spending his first six and a half NBA seasons in Dallas.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and forward LeBron James (23).
© Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
Doncic admitted he really enjoys living there, especially because of the close proximity to the ocean. However, he mentioned that there is one thing he doesn’t like in Los Angeles.
“This is the first city I play in that has an ocean, and I really like the ocean,” Doncic said. “First thing, I mean, after a couple days, that was the first thing on my mind, you know. It’s a lot. I like it, I like it very much. The only, the only thing is, is the traffic.”
Los Angeles is known for its heavy traffic. According to the Global Traffic Scorecard, it ranked third in the United States for average hours lost in traffic, totaling 88 hours in 2024.
Doncic was drafted third overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks before being traded that night to the Mavericks. In addition to his five All-Star appearances, he has been selected to five All-NBA First Teams, won Rookie of the Year in 2019, and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season.