NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. MAVERICKS

June 8, 2024

Luka Doncic

Dallas Mavericks

Practice Day

Q. When you saw how they were playing you, what difference do you think you can do to be able to get into the paint so you can maybe manipulate the defense and get your passes or your lobs off?

LUKA DONCIC: Yeah, I think just be a little bit more aggressive. I think we all came out for the game with little energy. So I think we have to be better with our energy especially from the start.

Q. Kyrie talked about how the crowd gets on him and how he deals with that. When you hear them going after him, is that something you take personally, too? Do you guys talk about that? Is that something that impacts you?

LUKA DONCIC: No, I don't think so. I mean, we talk about it, but we've just got to stay together. I think we talk about, too, we've got to talk more on the court than we did in Game 1. So that's got to be better from my side, too.

Q. You've been in Dallas your whole NBA career, and after going through Game 1, having the emotions calm down, have you had any time to reflect on what it means to you to be representing Dallas here in the Finals?

LUKA DONCIC: I mean, it's big. This is the team that drafted me, and the team that believed in me. So I'm really happy to represent Dallas. Hopefully it's not the last time. But I think the whole Dallas [fan base] is proud of our team. So I'm happy to represent them.

Q. I was wondering, when you play basketball it seems like you play so freely and you have so much fun, and I was wondering how you are able to balance playing freely and being serious at the same time.

LUKA DONCIC: I don't really know, but I'm just trying to have fun. That's the game I love. That's the game that gets me paid. And nothing better in the world than playing basketball for your job.

So just trying to enjoy it.

Q. Bit of a two-parter. I'll start with a light one, Kylian Mbappé went to Real [Madrid] recently. Wonder if you had a reaction to that?

LUKA DONCIC: I already knew it. (Laughter).

Q. Had you spoken to him at all?

LUKA DONCIC: Not yet. I mean, not since he was -- he signed.

Q. Do you have a prediction for the upcoming Euros?

LUKA DONCIC: Slovenia.