Luka Doncic is the future of the Los Angeles Lakers, but he has already started to lead like LeBron James. And that is no accident; it is leadership by example in real time.
Doncic is showing new habits that fans are starting to notice
As Doncic prepares to captain Slovenia at EuroBasket 2025, fans have started to notice a shift in him. He is becoming more vocal, showing up earlier, and taking more accountability, all habits that LeBron has embodied for more than 20 years.
LeBron’s leadership is about setting a standard that trickles down through the whole team.
Steve Nash explained it on the Mind the Game podcast, “When your best player, most famous player, most accredited player sets that standard every day, there’s a trickle down. There’s a care factor. There’s a priority placed on what we’re doing.”
That is LeBron in a nutshell. He has been that guy for decades, showing up early, holding himself and teammates accountable, demanding the best every day. It is hard not to be influenced by someone like that when you share a locker room with him.
James explained, “I don’t like being late to anything. I feel like it’s a disrespectful thing… my stomach starts to hurt a little bit, my anxiety starts to ramp up.”
LeBron has always been obsessive about punctuality. That might seem like a small detail, but it says a lot about how seriously he takes his role as a leader.
That kind of focus and discipline can’t help but rub off. Doncic has the talent; there is no doubt about that. But leadership is not just about skill; it is about presence and voice. LeBron has also long been recognized for his vocal leadership.
He shared, “My high school coaches would tell me the best thing about you, besides your skill or whatever the case may be, is your voice… my voice was always commanding and just knowing what was going on the floor, and it helped our team.”
Now, Doncic’s voice is getting stronger. With LeBron moving into the twilight of his career and Doncic signing a new three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers, the team’s future is clearly in Doncic’s hands. But that does not mean LeBron’s influence is gone.
LeBron’s impact on the Lakers will not just be measured in points or wins. It will be seen in the culture he has helped build, which is about discipline, accountability, and leadership.
Doncic is the new face of the franchise, but he is not starting from scratch. He is walking a path blazed by one of the greatest leaders in NBA history.