Luka Doncic contemplates unique end to basketball career

Luka Doncic has a lot of NBA seasons left, but he’s interested in someday finishing his basketball career with his first professional team, Real Madrid. In an interview with Jason Gay of The Wall Street Journal (subscription required), Doncic addressed the possibility of wrapping up his playing days in Spain (h/t to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops).

“To play with Real Madrid, you have to be so good,” Doncic said. Asked about potentially returning to the Euroleague and ACB power, he responded, “For sure. They raised me.”

Doncic was only 13 years old when he signed with Real Madrid in 2012. He starred at the junior level for three seasons before being promoted to the senior team and officially beginning his professional career. He was the youngest player ever to take the court for Real Madrid and the third-youngest in ACB history.

He quickly became one of the league’s top stars, capping off his career in Europe in 2018 by winning the EuroLeague scoring title, along with regular season and Final Four MVP honors.

Luka Doncic hopes to emulate LeBron James

Doncic doesn’t envision himself playing into his 40s like LeBron James, but he hopes to emulate his Los Angeles Lakers teammate in another way. He tells Gay that he would like to become involved in owning a sports franchise, even if it’s not in basketball. James is a minority owner with Fenway Sports Group, which controls the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Penguins and Liverpool F.C.

Doncic also discussed his new emphasis on conditioning, which he said was inspired by teaming up with James. Doncic was noticeably lighter and more mobile as he represented Slovenia in the just-completed EuroBasket tournament.

He used resistance bands, deadlifts and dumbbells to build his strength and added in some agility drills. He hired a private chef to help with a new nutrition routine that included intermittent fasting.

He also stepped away from the basketball court for a while to place his full focus on fitness.

“For the first time, I stopped playing basketball for a month,” Doncic revealed. “Pure training and fitness. And padel tennis.”