The faces in Luka Doncic’s latest Lakers workout photos looked familiar enough. His teammates were on the floor in Slovenia, preparing for the season during the superstar’s privately organized minicamp. But one figure watching from the stands stood out. Luka’s surprise hire became a talking point ahead of the season, raising an obvious question.
What was legendary “shot doctor” doing there? NBA insider Marc Stein soon provided the answer.
“Holger works closely with Luka on his Total Hoops Approach youth basketball initiatives,” Stein wrote.
Stein added that the Search Institute also works on the project through funding from Luka Doncic.
That clarification puts a different spin on Geschwindner’s appearance. The 80-year-old basketball thinker was not necessarily joining JJ Redick’s coaching staff or arriving in Slovenia to overhaul the Lakers’ offense. His connection to Doncic already extends beyond the NBA through the Slovenian star’s youth basketball work. Still, the presence of Geschwindner during an actual Lakers workout naturally drew attention.
There are few figures in modern basketball with a résumé quite like his. Geschwindner became widely known through his decades-long partnership with Dirk Nowitzki, whom he began mentoring when the future HoF was still a teenager in Germany. Their relationship eventually produced one of basketball’s most distinctive careers.
Nowitzki developed from a relatively unknown European prospect and transformed into the first European to win MVP. Eventually, he became an NBA champion and one of the greatest shooting big men in league history.
Geschwindner played a significant role in helping the German star develop the unconventional mechanics and movement patterns that defined his game. Rather than relying exclusively on repetitive basketball drills, he incorporated ideas from mathematics, physics, and movement training. He once used physics formulas to determine 60 degrees as the optimum angle to shoot a jumper.
That background explains why his appearance beside Luka Doncic generated curiosity.
LukaMagic doesn’t need someone to teach him how to play basketball. He has already established himself as one of the league’s perimeter offensive engines, capable of controlling a game as both a scorer and playmaker.
But the Slovenian minicamp wasn’t simply another workout.
Luka Doncic brought Lakers players to his home country as the team attempts to build chemistry before the season begins. The trip has included time on the court alongside activities away from basketball, giving the Lakers an opportunity to develop relationships before the pressure of the regular season takes over.
Geschwindner’s appearance adds another layer to that environment.
His established relationship with Luka Doncic’s Total Hoops Approach explains why he was present. Meanwhile, his basketball history makes his presence impossible to ignore.
The Lakers’ offseason isn’t over yet. The team is yet to find a starting wing. With Peyton Watson off the board, the Lakers have no option other than Jonathan Kuminga. At the same time, the rumors linking Klay Thompson with the Lakers have also vanished. Now, with the team bonding at the minicamp, the front office still has work to do.