Luka Doncic hasn’t been shy about expressing his awe at teaming up with LeBron James, and for good reason. The generational Dallas Mavericks talent, who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster move last offseason, is now sharing the floor with one of the most legendary figures in NBA history. And for Doncic, even after years of dominating the league himself, the experience has been eye-opening.
In a recent interview with on Mind The Game, Doncic reflected on what it has meant to play alongside LeBron.
"I mean, it's great. You see, I've never played with a guy like this. And, you know, just being traded to here, to L.A., I mean, it was different. But just to play with guys like him, like, it's unbelievable."
"Like, I could learn so many stuff, you know. First of all, off the court, you know, all the things he does just to be ready for the game. And obviously on the court, everybody knows what kind of player he is."
That readiness, according to Luka, is part of what sets LeBron apart. When asked by Nash for a specific example, Doncic laughed and said:
"Well, first of all, he shows up like 10 hours before the game. So that was really the main, like, I was, what? I came to the arena. He was already done working out. I was like, what?"
While the duo’s chemistry is still developing, Doncic sees it trending upward. “I think it’s a work in progress,” he said:
"I think I still think it's a work in progress. When we two are out there, and AR, you know, he's been playing unbelievable. And I think it's just still a work in progress. You know, I think we're getting better and better every day."
Despite flashes of brilliance, the Lakers' 2024-25 season ended in disappointment.
The team's glaring roster flaw, the absence of a true center, proved fatal in the playoffs, especially against the physicality of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Anthony Davis had left in the blockbuster trade and the Lakers never found a proper replacement.
The Lakers were bounced in five games, leaving both Luka and LeBron frustrated.
This offseason, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has acknowledged that failure and made it clear that getting a center is priority number one. He also emphasized the importance of meeting LeBron James’ expectations in what could be his final season.
LeBron is expected to opt into his player option for his 23rd NBA season, and with Doncic now locked in as the franchise’s future, the Lakers are in win-now and win-later mode.
Austin Reaves remains a key part of that vision. While rumors swirl about his trade availability, the Lakers have made it clear they won’t move him unless it’s for an All-Star talent. His agent has also come out publicly denying that Reaves is getting traded, reinforcing that he’s still part of L.A.’s long-term core.
Among the centers linked to the Lakers this summer are Daniel Gafford, Nic Claxton, and Brook Lopez. The team also holds valuable trade assets, including Dalton Knecht and a future first-round pick.
With those chips in play, expect the Lakers to be aggressive in finding a center who can anchor the defense and complement both Luka Doncic’s pick-and-roll mastery and LeBron James’ all-around brilliance.
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