It's year five.
Can you believe it's year five?
I mean, from the outside looking in,
it seems to be going by pretty fast.
How's it feel for you?
Yeah, for me the same.
It's even probably more
faster than you guys think.
So it's it's all going by so fast,
you know, just having basketball
every day and just enjoying it.
And it's been really fast. Yeah.
Speaking of speed, when you get in your
flow and when you're in control of a game,
it feels like everything slows down for you.
If you've ever seen the movie The Matrix,
it's like you're Neo and you're dodging.
All the bullets left and right,
what does it feel like from your perspective?
Yeah, I think it's just playing
their own pace, you know?
I think a lot of guys appreciate
that it's been different,
you know, than some guys know
they're really athletic.
I wish I was, but I gotta
adjust and play them on paces,
which gives me some moment to think.
You started this season with those
nine straight 30 plus point games.
You and Wilt Chamberlain own that record.
Now, I know that your team first
and it's all about the team,
but what did those comparisons mean to you?
And what did that hot start mean to you?
I mean, I know I need to get a better
start than last year. You know,
last year was awful the way I started,
so I knew I had to start better.
I didn't expect to start that that good.
But you know, about the records,
it feels like wilt is in every record, so.
And record, I said. There was wild so.
Pretty good company to keep.
Yeah. And again, like I said,
I, I know you're all about the
team first and winning first,
but you are at the forefront
of the MVP conversation.
What would meaning an MVP mean to you?
I mean a lot. You know, a lot of
people can say they were MVP of NBA,
the best league in the world.
But obviously there's a lot, a lot to go.
Through but that would be amazing, honestly.
You made it a point to have
better conditioning, better
nutrition coming into this year.
What's been the biggest benefit?
Obviously I was tired a little bit because
I've been playing basketball summer,
but that's one thing they gave me shape too.
It was a little bit easier.
But just like on the core,
you know, I'm going to be tired.
Obviously I play a lot of minutes,
but just progressing, you know,
recovery is way better.
I can recall when you came into the
league and we're trying to figure out
just how good you could and would be.
I do remember that greats in the
league were really welcoming to you,
including LeBron James.
What do you think those players who
are already in the NBA and having
success saw in your game that made
them welcome you the way they did?
I think, like I said,
probably my own page, you know,
I wasn't really the athletic guy,
you know, coming from here,
they didn't really know what to expect.
But I think just, you know,
the way I read the game, probably that's
it. And then I just saw recently
where LeBron tweeted out again,
and I've heard him say this on camera,
that you are his favorite player to watch.
What does that feel like?
Yeah, it's amazing.
I mean, it's the right,
you know, he's one of the top
guys ever to play basketball.
So really amazing that.
Here's those words from him.
I'm gonna stick on the legend theme
because I remember in December of 2019,
when you guys were playing in LA
and Kobe was sitting courtside,
and you hear somebody speaking Slovenian,
and you're like, who on Earth is that?
What did that moment mean to you?
Especially now, when you look back and
think about the way he welcomed you?
I mean, it was amazing.
You know, the first time I met him,
the first thing he said to me, you know what?
You know they're going to come after
you because you're from Europe and
they're going to come after you.
And he was right, you know,
but it was that moment.
I always remember it.
A lot of times it was
special and amazing moment.
I mean, it's called Brian,
so everybody would feel special
even growing up in Europe.
I'm sure because, you know,
he spent some time overseas
that he was kind of top of mind.
What did Kobe mean to?
The younger European players that
that you were growing up with
ohh a lot, you know probably
the most his mentality the
way he approached basketball.
He wanted to win no matter what.
But then he was unbelievable player.
You know he had I think he had
an answer to every defense every
coverage they threw at him.
You know he had to answer.
So it was amazing to watch him.
And then another legend.
You're part of Brand Jordan now.
Your shoe, your signature
shoe came out in September.
What's it been like having the
Luca one and and being online.
What brand? Jordan. Now
amazing. Now everybody they meet,
they they say where's my shoes?
You know, every person that I
meet now we're outside jokes.
It's amazing. You know,
I'm really feel comfortable with this shoe.
It looks great, feels comfortable.
So it's everything I wanted in the shoe.
So now I hear your favorite color is red.
Are there other red ones?
Your favorite to wear or do you have
a particular color scheme is there
what are your favorite ones to wear?
And the red, the red and go are my
favorites. Yeah. Yeah. Easy choice.
Yes. Exactly. Exactly right.
Let's talk about your future.
With the Mavs.
You got to the Western
Conference Finals last year.
You got a little bit of a taste of it.
How would you describe your
hunger to try and bring an NBA
championship to Dallas? Yeah,
that's that's everything.
You know, everybody wants
to win the championship.
I want to win championship here.
So it's it's our goal.
You know, every season is the same goal,
but it's a lot of work to do.
There's so many great teams in this league.
Anybody can beat you at this point.
So you got to be really ready.
You led me to my next question
because I see the workload.
That you're putting in each and every night.
How much fun are you still having? Luca
Ohh, it's fun.
You know, it's basketball,
you know, this is my work.
I have fun at work so it's it's amazing.
So every night I can step on
the court, it's fun for me.
What is your, your biggest motivation
now to continue to get better and better
and show improvement on a nightly basis?
I mean, just every day, you know,
just playing basketball,
obviously the championship
goal is my goal. You know,
I wish I could win one championship.
Whenever that happens, I hope it happens,
but that's the goal, you know,
that's going to push me forward.
Now look at that.
There's a large portion of Maverick
fans who asked me this all the time
because they're afraid that if you
don't get a championship here in
Dallas soon that you might leave.
What do you say to those fans who
who are worried about you not
sticking in Dallas long term?
I don't think they'll worry
about it right now. You know,
I I got but five years left here,
so I don't think they
should be worried about it.
No, you're good.
You're good. All right.
Committed to The Mavericks.
That's good to hear.
When when you think about the joy
that you get from basketball.
Where does it come from?
How do you continue to create it?
Could you do it a lot for fans, right?
They get joy from watching you.
Where does it come from for you?
I'm like, I say, you know,
I enjoy basketball.
Just being out there,
the joy to play basketball is amazing.
You know, sometimes you're going
to feel like tired before the game.
I mean, something happened off the court,
but basketball is my, you know,
like piece place, you know,
I always want to go there.
I forgot about everything
that's going on off the court.
And I just enjoy playing basketball.
What's your favorite cheat meal?
Probably pasta. You know,
since I was young, you know,
always my favorite was pasta.
So that's probably the chemical, too.
I know you like to play your
Slovenian music pregame.
I hear it all the time.
But who are some of your
favorite American artists now?
Probably. Say Drake,
probably. He's my favorite.
I need your best Texan accent.
Can you say, come see the Mavs
play in your best Texan accent?
I don't know how to do that accent.
I don't know. I just know you all.
That's all. That's good.
That's a good start.
I don't really know how to.
I have a European accent.
Yes, you do. And Speaking of what
do you really miss from Slovenia
that you can't get here in Dallas?
Probably. My friends, you know,
they're always there.
They're in school,
so they can really travel.
We're just home.
Just being home, you know,
where I was from,
where I was born.
Just being home.