Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has no problem with Luka Doncic suiting up for Slovenia. Speaking to ESPN, Pelinka praised Doncic’s devotion to his country and explained why the Lakers fully support his decision to represent his roots.
“Luka has a tremendous amount of heartfelt pride and appreciation for his roots and playing for his country,” Pelinka told ESPN. “I just think in the partnerships we have with our players, the Lakers want to be mindful of players’ passions and who they are as men, and then lean in and support those things. So, around Luka, it was a very easy partnership decision that we wanted to support.”
Luka Doncic’s arrival has shifted the franchise’s focus, and Pelinka is fully committed to building a roster worthy of his talents. Of course, setting the right culture in the locker room is also important, and Pelinka believes that allowing Doncic to represent his home country this summer will only enhance his ability to lead with a team-oriented mindset.
“Players playing basketball in the offseason is something that, from a leadership standpoint, I support,” Pelinka added. “I think you could say in some sense that some of the offseason and sort of the current basketball lens, especially in the States, is on individual work. And I think that sort of team environment can get lost.”
The Lakers acquired Doncic back in February as part of a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks. His arrival has extended the Lakers’ title window by at least a decade, and Pelinka is hard at work trying to maximize the opportunity.
As the Lakers have made several key signings (Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia), Luka has been dominating EuroBasket with a slimmer frame, faster movement, and more effective leadership.
He averaged 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 7.1 assists over seven games in the tournament, leading all players in scoring and placing second in assists. While Germany ultimately won the tournament, Doncic and Slovenia made an impressive showing, which is great news for the Lakers.
If Doncic feels empowered and inspired to improve next season, it could be his best year yet. With a brilliant head coach in JJ Redick and a star-studded core that includes LeBron James and Austin Reaves, a peak version of Doncic could be all the Lakers need to make another deep playoff run.
As their star for the foreseeable future, however, it was more important for the Lakers GM to set the tone for how Luka’s tenure will play out. The franchise wants him to be passionate about the game, and they value the rewards of EuroBasket play rather than the risk.
In the end, the Lakers’ future is in Luka’s hands, and Pelinka knows this better than anyone. After giving up so much to get Doncic, he’s going to make sure he’s equipped and enabled to play his game to the best of his ability, with nothing held back.
At this point, Luka has already shown he can elevate the Lakers on the court, and now the franchise is making it clear they’ll back him off the court, too. By embracing his passion for Slovenia and giving him the space to compete internationally, the Lakers are reinforcing trust with their new superstar. That kind of support could pay major dividends when it matters most in Los Angeles.
