NBA – Luka Doncic honest about training in Europe: “I loved it in Madrid”.

Los Angeles Lakers (DR)

Par Guillaume Kagni | Journaliste sportif

Luka Doncic is one of those talents who put Europe on top in the NBA. A Real Madrid superstar since his teens, it was no surprise for EuroLeague followers to see him doing so well on the other side of the Atlantic. In fact, the Lakers’ point guard spoke of the European formation.

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After a complicated end to the season and elimination in the first round of the playoffs, Luka Doncic has decided to take control of his career. Indeed, the Lakers player has embarked on a rather drastic diet, and for the first time in a long time, he seems particularly sharp physically. It remains to be seen whether this transformation will have any sporting repercussions.

Fans will have the opportunity to find out soon enough, as the point guard will be with the Slovenian national team at the European Championship. Unlike other superstars, who prefer to focus on the World Cup and Olympic Games, Luka never misses an opportunity to make his country shine. This attachment reflects his love of the European game.

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Luka Doncic talks about European training

For it was on the Old Continent that the point guard learned everything and developed his natural qualities to the point of becoming one of the best players on the planet. Speaking on the LeBron James podcast, he talked about the specificities of training centers and apprenticeships in European clubs. He sees a big difference with the United States.

In Europe, it’s the same for all players. In training centers, you don’t play five games a week. You might have one or two a weekend. Most of the time, we’re in training, and I loved it. Each session started with 30 or 40 minutes of fundamental training. Then we’d move on to different game formats: 4 vs. 3, 3 vs. 2.

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You have to read the defense and react. That’s what it was all about: understanding the game. When I was 15, I had a coach who was hard on everyone in the team, from the first guy to the last. I started training with the professional group, but his aim wasn’t to make me progress just myself. He wanted to develop the qualities of the whole squad.

In the United States, the best young players spend their lives traveling from prestigious tournament to prestigious tournament. They don’t necessarily have the time to develop their fundamentals, and above all, they can get preferential treatment if they’re really on top. In Europe, even when he started training with the pros, Luka Doncic was held to the same standards as team-mates his own age. Without that, would he have reached the level he has today?

Los Angeles Lakers Luka Doncic NBA Statements Western Conference