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  • Is Luka Doncic 230 or 260 pounds? Magic Johnson says new Laker must take ‘conditioning seriously’


    A split image of Magic Johnson with both index fingers pointing down and Luka Doncic pointing outward with an index finger

    Lakers legend Magic Johnson, right, applauded the team’s acquisition of former Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic, but he says Doncic has to take conditioning seriously. (Carolyn Kaster, LM Otero / Associated Press)

    Magic Johnson is over the moon about the Lakers’ surprise acquisition of former Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic over the weekend.

    On Sunday, the Showtime-era legend posted no fewer than seven times on X expressing his pleasure with the transaction and his excitement for the Lakers’ future. Johnson said he “can hardly wait to see Luka in a Lakers jersey in Crypto arena,” that the deal “is amazing for the NBA” and that Doncic “will definitely make the Lakers a championship-contending team.”

    He also compared the move to the Dodgers — a team in which Johnson owns a minority stake — signing Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani before their 2024 World Series championship season.

    Johnson did, however, have one tiny critique of sorts aimed at Doncic, tucked at the very end of one of his posts.

    “LeBron James will be a positive influence on Luka,” Johnson wrote, “teaching him his championship mentality that includes taking his conditioning seriously.”

    Read more: Here’s why the Lakers believe LeBron James will not ask to be traded

    Doncic has been named an All-Star in five of his seven NBA seasons. Last year, he finished third in the league’s MVP voting, won the trophy for Western Conference finals MVP (which happens to be named after Johnson) and helped the Mavericks make the NBA Finals.

    He is scheduled to be introduced as a Laker on Tuesday morning, days after a blockbuster trade sent him, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to L.A. in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round draft pick (the Utah Jazz also received Jalen Hood-Schifino from the Lakers and second-round picks from L.A. and Dallas to facilitate the trade).

    The Times reported that Dallas general manager Nico Harrison approached Lakers GM Rob Pelinka about the possibility of a deal. According to ESPN, one of the reasons the Mavericks initiated the talks was “significant frustration within the organization about Doncic’s lack of discipline regarding his diet and conditioning, which team sources considered a major factor in his injury issues.”

    The 6-foot-6 Doncic is listed at 230 pounds, but ESPN reports that “his weight ballooned to the high 260s early this season.” He hasn’t played since suffering a calf injury on Christmas.

    If there has ever been a role model for the kind of physical commitment needed to achieve consistent greatness, Johnson is correct in noting that it’s James. At age 40 and in his 22nd season, James remains in top condition and is still one of the league’s best players, even after playing more regular-season minutes than anyone in NBA history.

    Read more: Commentary: Why Mavericks grew frustrated with Luka Doncic and offered him to Lakers

    So far, James’ only public comments on the trade have been in appreciation of and well wishes for Davis, with whom he helped the Lakers win their 17th NBA championship in 2020.

    “Love you my dog!!” James wrote on his Instagram Stories. “Go crazy over there!”

    Johnson also gave high praise to Davis, as well as Christie, in his X comments.

    Here’s everything Johnson had to say about one of the biggest trades in league history.

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    This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.





    Luka Doncic, the star player for the Dallas Mavericks, has been the subject of some confusion when it comes to his weight. Some reports have listed him as weighing 230 pounds, while others have stated he is closer to 260 pounds. The debate over his weight has been reignited after Magic Johnson, the former NBA player and current part-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, made comments about the importance of conditioning for new players.

    In a recent interview, Magic Johnson emphasized the need for players to take their conditioning seriously in order to perform at their best. He specifically mentioned the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and staying in shape in order to excel on the court. While he did not mention Luka Doncic specifically, his comments have sparked speculation about the young star’s weight and how it may impact his performance.

    It’s clear that Magic Johnson believes that conditioning is crucial for success in the NBA, and it will be interesting to see how Luka Doncic responds to these comments. Whether he is 230 pounds or 260 pounds, it is likely that Doncic will need to prioritize his conditioning in order to reach his full potential as a player. Only time will tell how he chooses to approach this aspect of his game.

    Tags:

    Luka Doncic weight, Luka Doncic pounds, Luka Doncic conditioning, Magic Johnson Luka Doncic, Luka Doncic Lakers, Luka Doncic weight update, Luka Doncic fitness, Luka Doncic workout routine, Luka Doncic weight speculation, Luka Doncic NBA weight, Luka Doncic weight controversy.

    #Luka #Doncic #pounds #Magic #Johnson #Laker #conditioning

  • New Laker Dorian Finney-Smith excited to try to win with LeBron instead of guarding him

    New Laker Dorian Finney-Smith excited to try to win with LeBron instead of guarding him


    Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith, left, defends against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

    Dorian Finney-Smith, defending Anthony Davis during a game last season, was acquired by the Lakers on Sunday in a trade that sent D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round draft picks to Brooklyn. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

    The things that the Lakers and LeBron James are going to like best about Dorian Finney-Smith are the things that have kept Finney-Smith from appreciating his battles against the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

    “This is probably the most I ever said something to him. I’ve been guarding him for nine years, but I’m just not too friendly on the court,” Finney-Smith said Monday in Los Angeles.

    Just because Finney-Smith is known for his toughness, his willingness to take on brutal defensive assignments, that doesn’t mean his first chat with James would be about the battles the Lakers would fight now that they’re teammates.

    Instead, Finney-Smith saw an opportunity.

    “I just have to pull that shade down and ask him ‘give me some of those shoes.’ I can finally ask for some of that gear,” Finney-Smith said. “We never know when he’s going to hang it up. It was fun to be able to ask him for something, knowing I ain’t got to compete against him tomorrow.

    “… He said he got me. The hard part out the way. I asked. I broke the glass.”

    Read more: LeBron James says he could — but won’t — play at a high level for five to seven more years

    He’s got the gear, now he’s ready to play big-time games.

    “I’m excited,” he said. “I’m back to playing some meaningful basketball. It’s been a while, but I’m excited.”

    The Lakers broke the glass on their trade market Sunday, sending D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three future second-round picks to Brooklyn for Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton.

    Finney-Smith, 31, has played in 20 games this season and is averaging 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds while attempting 5.4 threes per game and making 43.5% of them. Milton, 28, is averaging 7.4 points in 27 games for the Nets this season while making 38.9% of his three-point shots.

    The two players attended — but didn’t participate in — the team’s practice Monday with the hopes of playing Tuesday against Cleveland, provided that all physicals are completed. The Lakers are also expected to get center Jaxson Hayes back from an extended absence because of an ankle injury. Lakers guard Gabe Vincent didn’t practice Monday and is questionable to play against the Cavaliers.

    Lakers coach JJ Redick said he plans on using Finney-Smith as a backup for the time being, electing to keep Rui Hachimura in the starting five.

    “I already talked to him about it. You know, we’re in a good spot with our starting group right now. So [Finney-Smith will] play and he’ll come off the bench,” Redick said. “And like I’ve told you guys several times, I want consistency with that group. But I’m not gonna be stubborn and locked into something if it’s not working. But it’s working right now, and Doe is a guy that can fit in very easily with any lineup and any sort of roster. He’s easy.

    “He has a desire to win and compete and it doesn’t matter to him if he’s starting or coming off the bench.”

    Read more: Nick Young still mad at D’Angelo Russell over video. He tells DLo to ‘stay out’ of L.A. after trade

    Typically, in-season trades are a shock to any player’s system, but for Finney-Smith, he’s been in trade rumors for most of the last two years after Dallas included him in their deal to acquire Kyrie Irving from Brooklyn.

    “You hear the noise. But I’m one of them guys, last year I got fed up. I was tired of hearing the noise. You start paying attention to it a little too much and you lose sight of where you’re at,” Finney-Smith said.

    “And that’s what happened last year. I thought I was gonna get moved and I ended up staying in Brooklyn. So this year, I just wanted to be where my feet was at. And that was in Brooklyn. So I was just trying to — even though I’m human — you gonna think about it. But I just tried to stay where I was at and that’s in Brooklyn. So I knew the chance of me getting traded was high.

    “So it didn’t matter where it was going to be at, I was gonna be ready to go because, again, I was already mentally prepared to get moved. But I’m happy I’m here. I’m not — I don’t wanna say that cause — but if you played for Brooklyn, you know what I mean. You don’t wanna be the little brother in the city. So I’m finally with the big bros.”

    Finney-Smith and Milton, strangely enough, were both teammates of Redick’s during his time as a player.

    “It gives you a lot of confidence because he knows what you can do so you ain’t got to go out there and try to do nothing you can’t,” Finney-Smith said. “So I just go out there and be me. Sometimes what I do, like you say, won’t show up in the stat sheet. But as long as we win, I’m happy. So that’s all I want to do here is win, bring good vibes, bring that winning mentality, and have fun doing it.”

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    This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.



    The Los Angeles Lakers made a splash in the offseason by adding versatile forward Dorian Finney-Smith to their roster. Known for his defensive prowess and three-point shooting, Finney-Smith is eager to make an impact on a team led by none other than LeBron James.

    After spending the past few seasons in Dallas, where he often found himself matched up against James in intense battles, Finney-Smith is thrilled at the opportunity to now be playing alongside the future Hall of Famer.

    “I’ve always had a lot of respect for LeBron and what he brings to the game,” Finney-Smith said in a recent interview. “But now, being on the same team as him, I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together. It’s a whole new challenge for me, but I’m ready to embrace it and do whatever it takes to help us win.”

    With the Lakers looking to bounce back from a disappointing season and contend for a championship once again, Finney-Smith’s defensive tenacity and shooting touch will undoubtedly be valuable assets. And having the chance to learn from and play alongside one of the greatest players in NBA history is an opportunity that Finney-Smith is eager to seize.

    “I’ve always been a competitor, and I love the challenge of going up against the best,” Finney-Smith added. “But now, I’m excited to be on the same team as LeBron and work towards a common goal. It’s going to be a great experience, and I can’t wait to get started.”

    Lakers fans are surely excited to see what Finney-Smith can bring to the team, and with his determination and skill set, he could be a key piece in helping the Lakers return to the top of the NBA.

    Tags:

    1. Los Angeles Lakers
    2. Dorian Finney-Smith
    3. LeBron James
    4. NBA
    5. Basketball
    6. Team dynamics
    7. Winning mentality
    8. Defense strategies
    9. NBA playoffs
    10. Championship aspirations

    #Laker #Dorian #FinneySmith #excited #win #LeBron #guarding