Luka Doncic is preparing for Year 2 of his journey with the Los Angeles Lakers. Following a shocking blockbuster trade that saw him time with the Dallas Mavericks end, he seems to be embracing a certain mentality going into the 2025-26 NBA season.
Doncic had to go through a significant change when the Mavericks traded him to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and draft compensation. It forced him to move on from the city that embraced him as their superstar, having led them to the NBA Finals in 2024.
Despite that, Doncic is moving forward to a new chapter as he fully settles in with the Lakers this summer. According to ESPN insider Dave McMenamin, sources told him that Doncic possesses a strong mentality going into next season.
“I spoke to someone close to Luka over the weekend, and they told me that Luka’s mentality is win now. So this isn’t him signing away to the Lakers and saying, ‘Okay, you guys go. you have my commitment, and I’ll have some patience here.’ It’s I want to win this year. I want to win the subsequent year. So long as my name is signed to a piece of paper saying, ‘I’m a member of the Los Angeles Lakers,’ I expect to be in a position to be able to raise banners at Crypto.com Arena,” McMenamin said.
“I spoke to someone close to Luka over the weekend and they told me that Luka’s mentality is win now” – @mcten pic.twitter.com/zSZ6kNrhTZ
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) July 29, 2025
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What Lies Ahead For Luka Doncic, Lakers
GettyLuka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers is introduced before Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on April 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Last season saw Doncic average 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game after 50 appearances. He shot 45% from the field, including 36.8% from beyond the arc, and 78.2% from the free-throw line.
In the 28 regular-season games he represented the Lakers, he produced 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per contest. He put up a valiant effort in the postseason, putting up 30.2 points, seven rebounds and 5.8 assists per game.
Doncic stands out as one of the best players in the league. He was coming off of five consecutive All-NBA first team selections before injuries had him miss 32 games last season.
Doncic had made massive strides in his conditioning this offseason, losing significant weight in the process. He is aware of the criticism about his fitness, looking to prove the doubters wrong when it comes to his work ethic.
As for the Lakers, they retooled this offseason. Despite losing Dorian Finney-Smith, they added Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart.
Bench consistency was a major issue for Los Angeles, which had them rely on their starting rotation way more than usual. This resulted in their surprising first-round series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, signaling a need for them to improve the roster.
Improving their overall depth in a significant way, the Lakers will look to continue asserting themselves as a title contender. They have the utmost privilege with Doncic and LeBron James as co-stars, emphasizing the need for the franchise to maximize their potential while they have them.
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