When the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, the primary conversation inevitably became about talent. Doncic has already won a scoring title and secured five All-NBA First Team nods, and hasn't even entered what's traditionally defined as an athletic prime.
The characteristic that will make or break his tenure was on firm display after the superstar signed a three-year contract extension, however, as Doncic provided early insight into his leadership qualities.
Doncic, 26, has experienced resounding success for a player who's still four years south of 30. He led Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024 and Western Conference Finals in 2022, and has already established a reputation as a top-tier postseason performer. The question, however, is whether or not Los Angeles has given him enough help to build upon that success.
During a recent press conference, Doncic stated his belief that the Lakers are ready to compete for a championship as soon as the 2025-26 season.
"Honestly, I think we have a great team. We have what we need to compete for the championship. I'll try to win every game no matter what, and we got some new great guys on the team, so you know we're going to go for it."
Many have stated their belief that Los Angeles isn't yet ready to contend, but Doncic's comments sing a different tune—and could be instrumental to the team's success.
Luka Doncic believes the Lakers are ready to compete for a title
Los Angeles went through the 2024 offseason without making a single roster addition via free agency. Its lone attempts at upgrading its rotation were made via the NBA Draft, when it selected Dalton Knecht and Bronny James.
In 2025, however, Rob Pelinka has made several key additions that Doncic seems to believe have enabled the 50-win Lakers to take the next step.
Los Angeles traded up to select captivating two-way prospect Adou Thiero at the 2025 NBA Draft. It then added former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton to improve the depth at center and 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart to help shore up the team's on and off-ball efforts on defense.
The Lakers also added a promising 3-and-D wing in Jake LaRavia, whose 2024-25 averages translated to 12.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.4 offensive boards, 4.2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.6 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes on .475/.423/.678 shooting.
Furthermore, Jarred Vanderbilt has finally entered an offseason with a relatively clean bill of health. That's created inevitable intrigue in regard to his ability to return to the borderline All-Defense level of play that helped him secure a four-year, $48 million contract with the Lakers.
If Ayton, LaRavia, Smart, and Vanderbilt live up to a fair percentage of their respective and collective potential, then the Lakers could conceivably improve upon a 50-win effort.
There's also something to be said for Doncic establishing chemistry with his teammates during training camp and offseason settings. He was blindsided by a trade to the Lakers in February and was immediately asked to produce a championship without the opportunity to build a rapport with a new cast of coaches and players.
Thankfully, Doncic is already providing positive reinforcement to his teammates for a 50-win effort in 2024-25 and the front office for retooling on the fly. It's a promising sign that he can thrive as a leader.