Sep 29, 2025; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during media day at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Lakers’ Luka Doncic Receives Major Prediction From Rival GMs

Originally posted on Los Angeles Lakers on SI
By Ryan Stano | Last updated Oct 11, 2025 3:30 PM ET

After being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, Luka Doncic started playing basketball at an MVP level. After a couple of weeks of feeling out his new team, he started becoming the offensive force he was in Dallas.

The Mavericks decided to trade Doncic because they didn't feel like they could win a title with him. That motivated him to get into the best shape of his life.

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Now that he's spent an entire offseason in Los Angeles and settled his future with a contract extension, general managers from around the league expect a big season from him.

Rival GMs Think Lakers Guard Luka Doncic Could Win His First MVP

In NBA.com writer John Schuhmann's annual preseason poll of GMs around the league, Luka Doncic scored well in the MVP category, with 10 percent of the voters thinking he will win the award this year.

He was second in the poll, finishing behind Nikola Jokic. The three-time Denver Nuggets MVP got 67 percent of the vote, overwhelmingly being the favorite. Still, Doncic is viewed as someone who can challenge him.

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The Lakers traded for Doncic because they believe that he can be the face of the franchise for the next decade. He's already taken one franchise to the NBA Finals.

If the Lakers want to compete for a championship this season, they need Doncic to play at an MVP level. The Western Conference is an absolute bloodbath, so it will be hard to win the conference.

The Lakers Are Going to Lean on Luka Doncic Even More This Season

Los Angeles will be without LeBron James for the start of the season as he deals with sciatica. That will mean that the Lakers will be leaning on Doncic even more than expected.

He will be tasked with helping the Lakers start off better than they did last season, which could be the difference in them getting a better seed once the playoffs roll around.

Doncic will still need some help from Austin Reaves to carry the load offensively, but it's not something he can't handle.

After arriving in Los Angeles, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. He shot 43.8 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.