Jan 16, 2019; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic (77) dunks the ball past San Antonio Spurs center Pau Gasol (16) during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Pau Gasol Sends Message to Luka Doncic on Lakers Future

Originally posted on Los Angeles Lakers on SI
By Aaron Coloma | Last updated Sep 19, 2025 12:30 PM ET

NBA Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Lakers legend Pau Gasol gave current Laker Luka Doncic some words of advice going forward as a member of the team.

Doncic is set to be a member of the Lakers through at least the 2027-28 season after signing a three-year, $165 million extension at the beginning of August.

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"Luka is one of the greatest players in the league and a guy that the Lakers definitely gonna build the next 10 years, a franchise around him," said Gasol when asked how Doncic can take the next step with the Lakers. "You gotta work together, you gotta communicate, you gotta build a real chemistry and you gotta lead your team"

Pau: "Luka is one of the greatest players in the league and a guy that the Lakers definitely gonna build the next 10 years, a franchise around him. You gotta work together, you gotta communicate, you gotta build a real chemistry and you gotta lead your team" pic.twitter.com/HU8fivDZTr
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) September 18, 2025

Gasol knows plenty about each of those, having won back-to-back NBA championships in 2008-09 and 2009-10. He played for the Lakers from the 2007-08 season through 2013-14, averaging 17.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game during his time in tinseltown.

From 2008-09 to 2010-11, Gasol made three All-Star Games and three All-NBA teams.

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Doncic clearly has experience in leading a team, as he carried a fifth-seed Dallas Mavericks team to the NBA Finals in 2024. He was the defined leader on that team, and has the capabilities to become a similar figure once again in Los Angeles.

The 6-foot-6 point guard, after coming to the Lakers in the biggest deal of the season, propelled LA directly into championship conversations; however, due to his limited time with the Lakers he never quite looked his best despite putting up solid numbers.

With more time to gel ahead of — and during — this season, Doncic will inevitably settle in with his teammates and start playing his best basketball.

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The superstar averaged 28.2 points per game with the Lakers, as well as 7.5 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game.

Doncic will, without a doubt, be seeing tons of the ball this season, and is the biggest factor in the Lakers' success for the upcoming season.

If he can thrive in that position, he will surely take on the leadership role Gasol wants to see him in both on and off the court.