Luka Doncic spoke to reporters on Thursday ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, emphasizing preparation, chemistry, and the challenge ahead.
Doncic, who joined the Lakers in a blockbuster trade from Dallas on February 2, said the team has focused on film sessions and on-court work in anticipation of Saturday’s Game 1.
“Just preparing—watching film, going through stuff on court,” the Slovenian said. “Mostly just preparing for the Timberwolves.”
The All-Star guard, now in his seventh NBA season, downplayed any major strategic shift under Lakers head coach JJ Redick, noting only a slight change in video session length compared to the regular season.
Los Angeles enters the series as the No. 3 seed after finishing the season with a 50–32 record, while the Timberwolves sit close behind as the No. 6 seed at 49–33.
The regular-season series between the teams ended in a 2–2 tie, though Doncic played in only one of those games—a 111–102 Lakers win in Minnesota on February 27.
While Doncic defeated the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals last season with the Mavericks, he acknowledged the personnel changes Minnesota has made since, including the additions of Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo in a offseason trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to New York.
“They added two guys that can really play,” Doncic said. “They’ve got Ant, and a lot of guys who can play and guard. So they’re a very, very dangerous team.”
The Slovenian guard has averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in 35.1 minutes across 28 games for Los Angeles since the trade.
He pointed to the developing chemistry with both LeBron James and Austin Reaves as a factor heading into the postseason, noting improved cohesion on the offensive end.
“Just more chemistry—kind of getting to know each other, knowing what we want on the court,” Doncic said. “So I would say chemistry so far.”
When asked about his mentality entering the playoffs, Doncic didn’t hesitate.
“To win a championship,” he said.
Los Angeles has not reached the NBA Finals since its 2020 title run in the Orlando bubble.
On the upcoming series, Doncic said he looks forward to the in-series adjustments that come with facing the same opponent multiple times.
“After Game 1, you see what you did well, what you did wrong, and then the game plan’s going to change through the series,” he said.
The Lakers and Timberwolves begin their best-of-seven series this weekend at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
