Luka Dončić & Comments & Vertical Development: How Deep Do We See?

“Alright then, you psychologist—tell us, what would your reaction be if you were Luka Dončić?”
That was the question that caught me off guard.

What came out of me was:
“But what is it actually like to be Luka? What is it really like to be Luka?”
Not just in the context of the current situation, but through the lens of his entire life story.

Because none of us truly knows what it’s like to be Luka, maybe the better question is:
How are we? 🤷

💬 Welcome to the comments section!

I rarely find myself reading comments under news articles, but this time I stopped. The comments beneath Luka’s story became a real laboratory of vertical development 🏗️—a convenient field for observing how different people, from different developmental stages, interpret the very same event.

Some see betrayal. Others see opportunity. Some see only numbers. Others see the wider context of the NBA ecosystem.
Hidden in these reactions are stages of vertical development.

What does a comment reveal about the emotional–mental framework from which someone is operating in that moment?
And what does the comment reveal about us, the ones writing it? 🤨

📈 What is vertical development?

Learning new skills and knowledge? Of course—always needed. That’s horizontal development.

Vertical development is something else entirely. It’s an expansion of perspective and a transformation of how we think. It changes how we make meaning of reality.

Imagine it as moving into an entirely new way of perceiving the world. 🌍
Just think how your view of yourself, others, and life has changed since adolescence—and how much more is still possible.

🏀 Luka Dončić and the comments through the lens of vertical development

The reactions to Luka’s move to LA offer a practical opportunity to walk through the stages of vertical development and get oriented on the scale of personal maturity (the descriptions below are simplified for the purpose of this article):

🚀 Fasten your seatbelts—let’s go vertical!
Developmental stages according to Susanne Cook-Greuter:

🔹 Stage 2/3: Self-Protective 🛡️

People operate from a sense of threat and self-preservation. The world feels dangerous; everyone is out for themselves. Reactions are black-and-white, defensive, and impulsive.
Example: “He has to look out for himself! Everyone’s trying to use him!”

🔹 Stage 3: Conformist 👥

Belonging is key. People align with group opinion and emphasize loyalty and harmony.
Example: “They ditched him unfairly. He should have stayed in Dallas. Loyalty is everything.”

🔹 Stage 3/4: Skill-Centric 📊

Focus on technical, measurable, rule-based aspects of the situation.
Example: “What does the contract say? His agent should have negotiated better terms. Experts say the stats don’t support this decision.”

🔹 Stage 4: Self-Authoring 🎯

People act from self-defined goals; identity is tied to success by conventional standards.
Example: “Analysis shows Dallas will lose revenue. As for Luka—he’s good, but he could be even better.”

🔹 Stage 4/5: Self-Questioning 🧐

Recognition of complexity and multiple perspectives begins.
Example: “How did Luka contribute to this situation? What can he learn from it? How might this affect the development of the NBA?”

🔹 Stage 5: Self-Transforming 🔄

Thinking goes beyond wins and losses toward sustainability and the whole system.
Example: “Maybe this is an opportunity to rethink the development of the sport—not focusing on short-term results, but on long-term benefits for all stakeholders.”

How does this relate to us?

Every developmental stage has its strengths and limitations. The key question isn’t which stage is “better,” but how well the fit is between the complexity of the situation, the role, and the maturity of the person.

When we understand where we are developmentally, we can act more effectively—with less frustration and greater clarity. Every adult carries responsibility for their emotional, mental, and spiritual development. We cannot expect situations or people around us to adapt to our inner unprocessed material.

The more consciously we develop, the more we can contribute to environments that aren’t trapped in drama and reactivity, but instead foster broader perspective and mutual growth. 🌱

⭐ And what about Luka?

For his age, Luka Dončić carries a great deal on his shoulders: success, expectations, criticism, his own story. All of this requires psychological strength that should never be taken for granted.

If I had the chance to speak to him, I would say:
“Luka, I wish you all the best. I hope you don’t read the comments and that you stay focused on what truly matters to you. And I hope you have people around you who can hold space for you and help you see the bigger picture. Because—what if life is actually happening for you?” 💙

Moments when the ground is pulled out from under us carry immense developmental potential. Every birth, however, also comes with risk and complications. When we stop fighting what is and meet the situation directly, we open ourselves to new perspectives and solutions.

How to work with uncomfortable emotions—check the article:
What if the key to growth isn’t feeling better, but feeling better?

And you?

How do you experience developmentally challenging situations? Do you get caught in drama, or can you step back and see more broadly?

Share your thoughts below and let’s co-create a conversation about the future. 🚀