Luka Dončić says that the Hookah Dončić meme, and others like it, don’t bother him at all.
The young Los Angeles Lakers star sat down with Complex for a brief chat about getting ready for the next season, and, during the conversation with our own Jordan Rose, he spoke about taking the time to enjoy himself when he isn’t preparing for a game.
“Obviously, athletes need to relax sometimes,” Dončić told Complex's Jordan Rose. “We don’t need to be working every day.”
Dončić also expressed how he feels about the people who’ve criticized him for smoking hookah and enjoying other recreational activities .
“I don’t really pay attention to that,” Dončić admitted. “Everyone, every day, all the time, is going to say something. Every day, there’s something. Anybody can say anything, so I try not to pay attention to that and lock in for what I can do.”
Dončić’s hookah use became the topic of conversation back in February after he was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. A report surfaced that the Mavericks were concerned with Dončić’s habits, such as smoking hookah and drinking beer.
"Make no mistake, the people who witnessed Doncic's last days in Dallas do not paint a flattering portrait of the 25-year-old's professionalism,” said Sam Amick of The Athletic. “They call him lazy.”
Dončić has since undergone a physical transformation thanks to intermittent fasting and better eating habits, that has seen him lose between 20 and 30 pounds over the summer. The basketball star is also undergoing a virtual transformation with the recent announcement that he’ll appear in the popular video game Overwatch 2.
Blizzard, the company behind the game, announced that Dončić’s presence will be in it via a 77 loot box giveaway, a golden basketball weapon charm that has his jersey number on it, a special spray, and a player title for Sharpshooter 77.
"Many have seen how competitive I am on the basketball court, but you may not know that I'm just as competitive when I'm playing Overwatch," said Dončić in a statement. "I love this game, and am excited about this partnership. It's special to be in the game in a way that other players can be part of."