Lakers’ Luka Doncic Embraces ‘New Challenge’ To Lead Without LeBron James
· Yahoo Sports
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 19: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring a three-pointer against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center on March 19, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
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Getty ImagesEl Segundo, Calif. – With wavy hair, a summer tan and a widening smile, Luka Dončić walked around the Los Angeles Lakers’ practice facility exuding both his joy and competitiveness.
The Lakers’ definitive star will need to maintain both qualities as he tackles both an intriguing and difficult task. What does he think about leading the Lakers without LeBron James?
“It feels great,” Dončić said at the Lakers’ practice facility on Monday. “Obviously, it’s a new challenge. I was in this position in my career a lot of times, so it’s not new to me. But I feel great. I feel excited.”
Granted, the Lakers will miss James’ generational talent as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and fourth-ranked passer. They will also miss his on-court leadership with his enduring consistency in managing his 41-year-old body and for making the right basketball play. But the Lakers also benefit from James’ departure to the Philadelphia 76ers.
It cleared cap space to address positional needs, including retaining their definitive No. 2 player (Austin Reaves) and acquiring young, elite center (Walker Kessler). It also paved the way for the 27-year-old Dončić to expand both his game and leadership. It comes at the right time after spending most of his offseason fully healing from a Grade 2 strained left hamstring that sidelined him for the Lakers’ final five regular-season games and the entire postseason.
“Right now, I’m feeling great,” Dončić said. “I feel rested. Mentally I feel great, so I can’t wait just to start.”
That’s because Dončić declined to play for his native Slovenia in the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers to ensure full health entering the 2026-27 season. But Dončić also seemed excited because of the bond that he has already cemented with his familiar and new teammates during an off-season trip to Slovenia.
The familiar: Dončić and Reaves resumed their bromance that included competing in every little thing. How it played out depends on the player’s version.
Said Reaves: “We won the rowing. We won the golf. We won bowling. Luka tried to put on a blue shirt when his rowing team lost, which was crazy. But he didn’t post it. So we let him hold the first-place trophy for once.”
Said Dončić: “I beat him in golf two days ago so, he didn’t say that, huh? The key was I was playing great golf. He gave me some strokes. I’m not going to lie.”
The new: Dončić introduced Reaves and his new teammates to historical sites in his native country. Dončić hosted his teammates for dinner. He paid for everyone’s travel expenses. Lakers rookie Cameron Carr could not attend because he had to attend the NBA’s mandatory rookie orientation program. Otherwise, the rest of Dončić’s teammates went on the trip that he called “amazing.”
“He’s the best host that I’ve ever had,” Kessler said. “It was an incredible trip. He was so generous with all of the guys coming out there, having a great time and connecting on and off the court. It’s extremely important. I think the best teams have great chemistry on and off the court. Having a trip like that is going to be why we’re so successful this season.”
NBA betting sites don’t pen the Lakers as the favorites to win the NBA title. Those honors belong to the NBA’s defending champions (New York Knicks), their Finals opponent (San Antonio Spurs) and the 2024-25 championship team (Oklahoma City). That’s partly because all three of those teams have both All-Star talent and continuity.
As for the Lakers? Dončić could win his first regular-season MVP award. Reaves could make his first All-Star appearance. But the Lakers have eight new players on their roster, including Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle, Ziare Williams, Kevon Looney, Jaden Hardy and Carr. Meanwhile, Bronny James, Dalton Knecht and Ado Thiero all hope to have expanded roles.
Still, it didn’t take for Kessler to realize he will excel just fine with Dončić after he threw him a lob during a pickup game in Slovenia.
“I don’t think he was even looking at me. He just kind of threw it, and I was there,” Kessler said. “I heard a lot of people say that. But I got it, dunked it and got right back down. I high fived. I was like ‘Yup, I can get used to this.’”
Still, the Lakers have won 17 NBA championships because of how they excelled in June and not just how they meshed in off-season workouts. Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal all delivered multiple championships to this accomplished franchise because of their generational talent and how they elevated their teammates. That responsibility now falls on Dončić to do the same with his stepback 3s, crafty playmaking and competitive intensity.
“It’s like a new challenge,” Dončić said. “I like challenges. I wouldn’t say it feels different, but I would say I feel honored.”
This article was originally published on Forbes.com