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The Los Angeles Lakers are officially entering a new era with Luka Doncic at the forefront, according to team governor Jeanie Buss.
While the details of their plans remain under wraps, Buss made it clear that every decision moving forward will prioritize the young superstar.
"The partnership will give us the stability to continue to move forward as we build towards a team around Luka Doncic, who is the No. 1 vote-getter in the All-Star game," Buss told CNBC Sport's Alex Sherman. "We couldn't be more proud that he is a Laker. He is a young all-star that the fans love to see."
Buss praised Doncic's unique skill set and court vision, describing him as a player fans must see in person.
"Luka is one of those players you need to see in person," she added. "The stuff that he does, in terms of the passing and how he sees the game, he's almost an illusionist. I think that's where he got the name 'Luka Magic' and certainly we know that comes from Magic Johnson."
Doncic's popularity extends beyond the court. Leading NBA All-Star voting, topping jersey sales, social media engagement, and YouTube views shows that fans — especially younger ones — are gravitating toward him.
"I think Laker fans have a lot to look forward to," Buss said. "We're about winning and wanting to add more trophies."
While a championship this season may be a stretch, the Lakers are positioning themselves to compete in the coming years.
They are projected to have over $50M in cap space this offseason, even after the $20.9M free agent cap hold for Austin Reaves, Doncic's backcourt partner.