The NBA regular season is a grind - 82 games packed into a tight calendar, with cross-country travel, back-to-backs, and minimal downtime. It’s a test of endurance as much as it is talent. And right now, Luka Doncic looks like a guy who's deep in the thick of it.
After a tough loss to the Cavaliers on Wednesday night, Doncic had a quick exchange with Donovan Mitchell that said a lot without saying much. The Cavs star asked Doncic where the Lakers were headed next on their marathon eight-game road trip.
Doncic’s answer? “I have no idea.”
That moment, caught on video and shared by NBA on ESPN, was lighthearted - Mitchell even cracked a smile - but it also underscored just how draining the NBA schedule can be, especially during a long road swing like this one. When you’re logging heavy minutes, flying city to city, and trying to stay locked in night after night, sometimes the next destination just blurs into the background.
For Doncic, the next stop is Washington, D.C., where the Lakers will face the Wizards on Friday. From there, it’s off to New York for games against the Knicks and the Nets to wrap up the trip.
It’s been a physically taxing stretch for Doncic, who’s among the league leaders in minutes per game at 36.3. That kind of workload doesn’t leave much room for recovery, especially when you're carrying the offensive load night in and night out. And while he avoided a scare after a hard landing off the raised court in Cleveland during the first quarter, it was yet another reminder of how fine the line is between pushing through and pushing too far.
The All-Star break is just around the corner, and it can’t come soon enough for players like Doncic. He’s been brilliant all season - the reigning scoring champ is once again putting up elite numbers - but even the best need a breather. Until then, it’s back to the grind.