By Alex Molina / info@eurohoops.net
Luka Dončić returned to Madrid this week as an ambassador for The One, Jordan Brand and Nike’s under-18 one-on-one basketball tournament, making its debut in Spain. The visit brought the Slovenian star back to the city where he developed into one of Europe’s brightest talents before becoming one of the NBA’s biggest superstars.
Despite a packed schedule, Dončić took time to reflect with MARCA about his first months with the Los Angeles Lakers, the franchise’s ambitions, the future of European basketball and his own pursuit of an NBA championship.
As expected, Dončić admitted it always feels special to return to Madrid.
“It’s always great to come back here,” he said. “I’ve returned many times, and it’s always beautiful to be in Madrid.”
Having experienced the pressure of playing for Real Madrid, Dončić sees clear similarities with life at the Lakers. Although the Lakers reached the playoffs, Dončić had little interest in celebrating the team’s progress. “It’s pretty similar,” he said. “At both clubs, the expectation is always to win. If you don’t win the championship, it’s a bad season,” he said. “That’s how I see it.”
The Slovenian believes injuries prevented Los Angeles from reaching its full potential. “We were unlucky with injuries. I think we could have gone much further this year, but it didn’t happen.”
Dončić described this summer as a pivotal one for the Lakers as they continue building a championship-caliber roster around him.
“Every offseason is important, but this one is even more so,” he said. “We need a good team and good people in the locker room. It’s a very important summer. I always need shooters around me because defenses usually double-team me,” he explained. “And athletic big men who can protect the rim and finish plays.”
Despite being considered one of the league’s perennial MVP candidates, Dončić insisted individual awards remain secondary. “The media decides those awards,” he said. “Of course I want to win every trophy, but the most important thing is winning the championship.”
With emerging contenders across the NBA, including San Antonio, Oklahoma City, New York and Boston, Dončić believes the Western Conference remains wide open. “There are so many great teams,” he said. “Finishing third or fourth in the West is never easy, but there are several teams capable of competing for the title.”
Dončić also weighed in on the NBA’s plans to expand its presence in Europe, stressing that collaboration between all stakeholders is essential. “The first thing is that everyone has to agree,” he said. “If there isn’t an agreement between the NBA, FIBA and the EuroLeague, there will be problems. But if everyone works together, it could be a great opportunity.”
Asked whether the United States could eventually lose its dominance in international basketball, Dončić believes the gap is narrowing. “Yes, I think it’s possible,” he said. “Serbia showed that by coming very close. The U.S. has incredible players, so it’s extremely difficult, but I think it can happen.”
Dončić also praised former teammate Jalen Brunson, saying he had congratulated him after his strong postseason and also spoke about the possibility of what might have been if they both had stayed in Dallas.
“He’s played really well. I sent him a message, and he has every reason to be happy. We’ve both improved a lot since then. We’re not the same players we used to be. It would have been very good, for sure.”
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