Luka Doncic Discouraged by Off Night Shooting, Yet Lakers Confident He'll Regain His Groove Soon

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic struggled to make his shots during his third outing with the Los Angeles Lakers, while LeBron James couldn’t compensate for his performance.

Despite the setback, the Lakers are remaining optimistic following their 100-97 defeat against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.

Doncic ended the game with 14 points, shooting only 5-of-18, including a troubling 1-for-9 from beyond the arc. The Slovenian star also contributed 11 rebounds and eight assists but struggled with six turnovers and five fouls in 33 minutes of play, marking his longest stint since joining the Lakers in a blockbuster trade from Dallas.

“It’s clear that it’s going to take some time,” Doncic acknowledged. “I felt quite rusty today, with four or five turnovers right at the start. That just can’t happen. I need to focus on playing basketball the right way.”

The game was undoubtedly frustrating for Doncic, who was returning from a 6 1/2-week stint on the sidelines due to a calf injury he sustained on Christmas Day. During the game against the Hornets, moments when he successfully made a shot were met with mixed reactions of relief and frustration.

In his three games with the Lakers, Doncic is shooting 16-for-45 overall and just 5-for-24 from three-point range, including a disappointing 2-for-16 in his two home games, where eager fans anticipated every shot but groaned at the misses.

Back-to-back defeats to struggling teams like the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets are concerning for a franchise that has won 10 of its last 11 games. Nevertheless, the seasoned James is not worried about Doncic’s rough start.

“This is his third game since Christmas and also his third game with our team,” James explained. “He’s still getting familiar with our plays, defense, and signals we’ve established since September. We’re trying to bring him up to speed while he’s working his way back from injury and regaining his rhythm.”

There were some positives in Doncic’s performance against Charlotte. It was his first game without minutes restrictions post-injury, and he led the Lakers with rebounds. His plus-13 rating was the best on the team, despite the turnovers.

“He needs to regain his confidence as himself because he’s one of the best players in the world,” remarked Austin Reaves, who was ejected in the third quarter just before the Hornets went on a dominating 22-1 run. “We need him to be at his best, and that may take a few games or weeks to establish, but we can work it out quickly.”

In the tense final moments of the game, Doncic was the one to inbound the ball to James, who missed two three-point attempts in the final seconds. Doncic expressed no issue with not being the focal point in the closing moments of the game.

“He was in a groove, so it made sense to go with him,” Doncic noted. “It’ll go both ways; sometimes it’ll be him, sometimes it’ll be me, depending on how the game unfolds.”

The Lakers acquired Doncic on February 2 in a major trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Mavericks.

Doncic played in the final two games for the Lakers before the All-Star break, but logged only 47 minutes of gameplay as the team gradually reintegrated him. He also benefited from several days of recovery while other NBA stars participated in the All-Star Game in San Francisco.

“Honestly, I took some time to disconnect from basketball,” Doncic shared. “I’m just excited to be back on the court. Missing this much time is new for me, and I can’t wait to compete again.”

He won’t have the luxury to linger on this slow start: the Lakers are heading to Portland after the game for a matchup against the Trail Blazers on Thursday, followed by a visit to Denver on Saturday.

The next home game for the Lakers is set against the Mavericks on Tuesday.

As the initial shock from the midseason trade begins to fade, Doncic is looking forward with optimism. “This is one of the greatest franchises in the world, and I’m thrilled to be here,” he stated. “I know I need some time to adjust, but I am excited to represent the Lakers.”