Life's a beach: Doncic embraces LA

ELSEGUNDO, California — Although Luka Doncic has always loved the ocean, he had never lived in a coastal city until this year. Ljubljana, Slovenia, Madrid and Dallas, Texas, are all fine stopovers on the journey of a transcendent basketball player, but they're not exactly near the beach.

A water view is not the biggest reason Doncic is embracing his new life with the Los Angeles Lakers, but the past year has reminded him to enjoy every opportunity when he gets it.

Over the summer, he reportedly bought a $25 million Manhattan Beach mansion that used to belong to tennis star Maria Sharapova. Doncic says that, when he isn't working, he mostly stays home with his fiancee and daughter — and now he has a home on the edge of the sparkling Pacific.

"The ocean is my favorite thing, and the beach," he said during training camp. "I'm a big water guy. Everywhere I played, I never got to experience the ocean, so now it's great."

The past nine months of upheaval in Doncic's life have left the Slovenian superstar unbothered, but also refocused on the things that are most important to him — and basketball is still top of that list.

"I think I had a great summer, and I really have a fresh mind now," Doncic said. "So it all starts again."

After a summer of well-documented fitness gains and international hoops success, Doncic begins his first full season with the Lakers on Tuesday night when they host Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

Everyone could see Doncic was slimmer and faster in his two preseason appearances this month for the Lakers, who brought him back to full game fitness cautiously after his busy summer at EuroBasket. Doncic says he made his physical changes largely with conditioning exercises, not dietary changes — but he's still hungry to add more achievements to his stellar career.

Coach JJ Redick says Doncic is "in a clearer headspace" this season, "and by that, I mean just mentally and emotionally in balance. It allows you the freedom to just be yourself."

The upheaval of 2025 hasn't stopped now that Doncic is finally settled in LA, however.