Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic poses for a photo with teammates on the court where he played growing up in Ljubljana
REUTERS/Borut Zivulovic
The Los Angeles Lakers are officially entering a massive new era. With LeBron James gone, Luka Doncic has taken the reins as the face of the franchise, and he is already putting in the work to build vital chemistry ahead of the 2026-27 season.
In a move to set the tone early, Doncic flew his teammates out to his home country of Slovenia for a four-day offseason minicamp. While the trip included golf and a boat ride down the Ljubljanica River, one of the most memorable moments occurred when Doncic brought the Lakers to his famous childhood basketball courts in Ljubljana.
Forward Jarred Vanderbilt captured the surreal scene on video while getting some shots up on the exact pavement where a young Doncic honed his craft before moving to Real Madrid.
“We at the courts man. This is his first time here,” Vanderbilt said while the team took in the upgraded facility.
“We at the courts man. This is his first time here.” 😂 – Vando says about Luka while they take some shots in his childhood court. pic.twitter.com/7UMayhu75E
— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) August 23, 2026
Doncic actually helped completely refurbish the public park back in 2021, installing premium surfaces, upgraded seating, night lighting, and his signature logo to the community space.
Building this off-court camaraderie is essential for a team featuring a heavily retooled roster. Los Angeles recently added pieces like Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, and Collin Sexton to surround their new cornerstone. Seeing Vanderbilt and Doncic connecting closely is a fantastic sign for the locker room dynamics as training camp approaches.
The Lakers need everyone firing on all cylinders to maximize Doncic's unbelievable offensive firepower. The superstar guard dominated the league during the 2025-26 season, leading the National Basketball Association with 33.5 points per game while averaging 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals. He efficiently shot 47.6 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from beyond the arc.
If this overseas bonding trip is any indication, Doncic is fully committed to leading his new squad. Bringing his teammates back to where his basketball journey started shows a level of personal investment that should have fans incredibly excited.