Lakers Rumors: Luka's Family Had Sense of 'Amazement' at LeBron's Pregame Routine

Los Angeles Lakers star guard Luka Dončić is still getting used to life as a teammate of star forward LeBron James, and his family is sharing his experience.

The Athletic's Sam Amick revealed Dončić's father's reaction to watching James prepare for his first game after his son became a Laker.

"According to people who saw the scene unfold on Thursday night, Dončić’s attending family, including his father, Sasa, took notice of the dedication on display as they sat near the court," Amick wrote. "There was a sense of respect and amazement, the people said, with Sasa repeatedly turning around to watch James’ remarkable regimen."

At 40 years old, James has not deviated from the routine that helped make him one of the greatest players of all time. Amick explained that most NBA players don't commit as much time to their pre-game preparation.

"James, followed his regular pregame routine and took the floor at approximately 3:30 p.m. local time for a game against Golden State that was still four hours away," Amick stated. "This isn’t the norm in the NBA, where most players — Dončić among them — typically don’t hit the hardwood until about two hours before tipoff."

James' routine paid off in a big way, as he turned back the clock with a 42-point, 17-rebound, eight-assist performance to spearhead a 120-112 win over the Warriors that night. He joined Michael Jordan as the only players to reach the 40-point mark after turning 40. He also now holds the distinction of the being both the oldest and youngest player ever to score 40 points.

Perhaps more importantly, James gave Dončić and his family a firsthand look at what it takes to become an all-time great. After the 25-year-old was surprisingly traded from the Dallas Mavericks, his old franchise openly questioned his dedication to the game and criticized him for his conditioning.

Playing alongside James could put Dončić on the right path as he looks to prove that the Mavs made a mistake by trading him.

In his first game as a Laker on Monday night, Dončić looked rusty and finished with 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting in a 132-113 win. He will look for a better showing when the team returns to action on Wednesday against the Utah Jazz.