Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) walks across the court during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center.
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Luka Doncic arguably became “The Guy” on the Los Angeles Lakers after signing a $165 million contract extension last August, but he now commands a much larger share of the spotlight following LeBron James' departure. The superstar point guard led the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA Finals appearance, racked up five All-NBA First-Team selections by age 25 and boasts two scoring titles, so he understands what it means to be a prominent figure in this league. But everything is magnified in LA.
Doncic has been drawing significant attention as the unquestioned face of the Lakers, and so far, it has been quite positive. The 27-year-old Slovenian invited his teammates to his native country for an August mini-camp that will include workouts and bonding activities like golf, which shows just how committed he is to leading this franchise. If that gesture did not highlight his dedication, perhaps this latest fashion move will. Headband Luka has returned.
Will we see headband Luka Doncic this season for the Lakers? 👀
Doncic can be seen wearing the accessory while honing his skills, via the NBA on Prime X account. While it may seem meaningless, many fans take this photo as evidence that the generational talent is especially dialed in this summer. The results will ultimately speak for themselves, but he appears to be moving with purpose.
The former No. 3 overall draft pick got incredibly comfortable during his first full season in Purple and Gold, posting 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from 3-point land. He was meshing beautifully alongside LeBron James, boosting LA to third place in the Western Conference standings.
If Luka Doncic did not suffer a Grade 2 hamstring strain in April, perhaps the Lakers could have posed a legitimate threat in the playoffs. He does not want to be left asking a similar question next postseason. The headband is on, and his ambition is high. What awaits Los Angeles this fall?