Luka Doncic has always sounded older than his age, won’t you say? On February 4, 2026, he casually reminded us why. Talking about his teenage years overseas, Doncic explained that he was never babied. From age 13 on, he was thrown into practices with players two or three years older, then quickly bumped again. Fifteen minutes with kids his age. Then straight to grown pros. The learning curve was steep. The payoff was obvious.
That very mindset still defines how teams build around him. With the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s already shaping front-office pressure as the February 5 trade deadline approaches. Alluding to playing the sport from so early on, the 26-year-old said,
“It was always older guys I was competing against 2 or 3 years older. First practice they put me with the same age after 15 minutes they moved me up. That’s how I learned I started practicing with the 1st team when I was 15 or 16 those guys was European legends. So I learn so much.”
Luka Dončić talking about playing professional basketball at age 13
“It was always older guys I was competing against 2 or 3 years older. First practice they put me with the same age after 15 minutes they moved me up. That’s how I learned I started practicing with the 1st team… pic.twitter.com/HvIJYk6YFo
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) February 4, 2026
Per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst (Feb 4, 2026), Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has been scanning the market for perimeter help and interior defense. Jaxson Hayes has exceeded expectations. Deandre Ayton hasn’t. And patience is thinning.
That’s where the $100M question enters. Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts reported this week that Jarrett Allen has emerged as a serious long-term target, especially as Cleveland reshapes its roster after acquiring James Harden.
“The Los Angeles Lakers should be targeting Jarrett Allen as the long-term center to put next to Luka Doncic. The former All-Star is an elite rebounder, roll man, rim protector, and finisher in the paint. He checks all the boxes to have success playing off number 77 and would be a massive upgrade over Deandre Ayton.”
Allen, a 2022 All-Star, is averaging 14.0 points and 8.0 rebounds on 60.5% shooting this season. He’s owed $20M now, with a three-year, $90.7M extension looming. The Lakers love the fit. The money, though, complicates things. And with cap flexibility coming this summer, Pelinka may wait (just like Doncic learned to) before making the next big jump.
Luka Doncic Keeps Rolling After Player of the Month Honor
Doncic stayed productive even without fireworks. On Tuesday, he dropped 24 points against Brooklyn, mixing in six boards and five assists to steady the Lakers in a clean win.
By his standards, it was almost quiet. The five-time All-NBA performer had cleared 30 in six of his previous eight games, piling up near triple-double averages during that stretch.
The bigger picture still screams dominance. Having averaged 34 points in January, Luka Doncic was named Western Conference Player of the Month – his first such honor as a Laker and another sign this run is just getting started.