Luka Dončić is more than just one of the best players in the league

Think Luka Dončić and your mental picture is probably his signature step-back jumper. The unthinkable passes that land perfectly in the hands of his teammates. The creativity under pressure and borderline court omniscience that cause endless headaches for his opponents.

You probably know Luka as a fierce competitor who brings a trademark tenacity to each play. A generational talent, fuelled by an expert basketball IQ. A force to be reckoned with, owning every possession and controlling the pace of the game.

But Luka, a consummate hooper, also contains multitudes off the court. He loves the serenity of the ocean and grilling a good cut of beef. He's as comfortable gaming as he is driving to the hoop for a Euro step and if he weren't on the hardwood, he'd choose running point on the gridiron. Above all else, he's incredibly proud of his 1-year-old daughter, Gabriela, whom he considers his greatest inspiration.

Here, Luka shares more about his passions away from the game and how they make him a better player, when he knew he was living his childhood dream and the crossover skill between two of his favourite pastimes, fishing and basketball.

Getting out on the water is one of my favourite things. My father had some small boats when I was young and we started going out together when I was maybe 7 years old. Today, renting a boat reminds me of my childhood: I love being on the ocean, just relaxing, driving the boat and getting some sun.

I enjoy the peace of the ocean—there's so much space and nothing more important than appreciating the views and catching some fish. The last time I was in Mexico I caught a marlin. That was an amazing moment. Probably the coolest thing I've ever caught was a little shark. Once I had a very big fish on the line, battling for seven to 10 minutes but it escaped right under the boat—a definite disappointment.

Fishing betters my game and basketball betters my fishing because they both require an essential skill: patience. Mostly, I like to fish to get out on the water, relax and enjoy the sun. But fishing is a reminder of the patience that's required in basketball and in life. You need patience no matter what.

My mentality away from the game is much more relaxed. I think off the court I'm more chill—staying home, enjoying time outside, not talking too much. On the court, I like to talk more and be aggressive; it's working hard and having fun.

I was born with an intense competitive drive. Ever since I was a kid, I've been competitive in almost everything I do. That's why it's important for me to compete hard on the court and then to recharge with other hobbies and have time with my family and friends.

If I had to pick a position in another sport, I'd love to play quarterback. When I was younger, I played a lot of sports. Basketball was obviously my favourite and I played outdoors almost every day after school. I also tried tennis and football—just being outdoors was fun for me. I've since really grown to like American football and I have a strong arm and great vision, so I think I could QB pretty well.

When I'm not training or competing, I like to go out and grill, usually a good steak and some corn. I normally cook out when it's sunny, which helps me relax with my family and recharge for my training and busy schedule during the season.

My daughter brings me the most pride of anything in the world. She's my greatest supporter in life, even if she doesn't know it yet. That drives me every day. She's 15 months old and I love spending time with her and playing with her.

I remember when I realised I was living my childhood dream. I left my home when I was 12 years old to go alone and play for Real Madrid. I was just settling in during my first year with the team. But in my second year, I started to come into my own. Playing for the best basketball club in Europe, that's how I knew I was making my dreams a reality.

I don't usually get nervous before games. But when I do feel some nerves, like before my first home game with the Lakers, I tell myself to remember that I'm good at what I do—I just need to go through my routine and do what I do best.

The best advice I return to is simple: have fun, especially on the basketball court. When something doesn't go as planned, I just remember: "You've been doing this your whole life. You know how to do it. Go out there and have fun".