LukaDoncic

Preseason question: After a transitional season and a half, the Luka Doncic era in L.A. now begins in earnest. The pieces are aligning, even if there is still work to be done before the trade deadline: The Lakers have a star-level self-creator sharing the backcourt with Doncic, a mobile rim-protecting anchor who can also take advantage of the surplus of lobs coming his way, and a glut of unproven defensive wings hoping for a career season drafting off Luka’s slipstream. This was the foundation on which Doncic staked his claim as the best player in the world back in 2024—can this trusted blueprint produce a Finals run in 2027? The Lakers are betting that it can; after all, Doncic is coming off one of the most efficient seasons of his career, he is playing with a long-prophesied trim physique, and he is now surrounded by a roster tailored to his particular strengths and weaknesses. Luka missed the entirety of the Lakers’ playoff run this past season and played only five first-round games the year before that; object permanence can be an issue in a league that moves as quickly as the NBA does. But it sure seems like everything is aligned for Luka to reassert his place at the very top of the superstar hierarchy.