Mar 27, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) controls the ball during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
As the summer draws to a close, teams across the league are in the stage of finalizing their roster and carving out their rotation for the upcoming season. In Los Angeles, the Lakers have a lot of work ahead after a flurry of offseason moves revamped the roster.
For superstar Luka Doncic, the individual prep work has been long underway, and the word on the street is that he’s about to start a new phase of the process. Next week, he will officially make his return stateside after spending the past few months in Slovenia, putting his arrival roughly a week away from training camp.
“But the real test of the solidity of the laid foundations will be the coming weeks and months,” Doncic said, via Kosakara of Sportklub. “Doncic, who has now increasingly turned over the direction of his life to his agent Lara Beth, is expected to remain in Europe until September 20. He will then move to Los Angeles. The LA Lakers will officially start preparations for the 2026/27 season on September 29, with a traditional media day organized the day before.”
The Lakers have already met for a team mini camp this summer (hosted by Doncic himself), but they still need time to build that chemistry together, which is what they hope to accomplish over the next few weeks. Of course, it will just be a continuation of action for Doncic, who is back in the gym again after a brief hiatus.
“This week, Luka entered the final phase of his central individual preparations in Ljubljana. After a short break by the sea, he started working again, partly in the fitness center, partly in the basketball hall. His work process does not yet include classic basketball training with full load or body play. Therefore, in contrast to previous years, he did not join Ilirija’s training in Tivoli, but mostly trains with his assistants in a smaller hall within the new swimming pool complex.”
Luka’s work has been very meticulous this summer. Following his hamstring injury at the end of last season, he’s been intentional about his workout process, careful to avoid causing any setbacks. While on-court work has been a small part of the routine, Luka has been more focused on conditioning, using pool exercises and weight training to keep his weight down.
Ultimately, with his skill set, we already know what Luka brings to the table. For his career, the six-time All-Star averages 29.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 46.9% shooting from the field. The real concern is whether or not he starts the season in shape, and if he can stay healthy when it matters.
So far, the signs are looking good on all fronts, and the Lakers are feeling increasingly confident in their chances this season. Between their new roster, JJ Redick’s coaching, and Luka’s greatness, they have all the pieces they need to be a contender in the West. That’s why their prep work over these next few weeks is so important, as what happens there could set the tone for the rest of the season.