The Luka Dončić Era Has Officially Begun

The 26-year-old is the ideal superstar for the prestigious franchise, and now that he’s gotten into ‘Championship Shape’ at the request of head coach JJ Redick, he has demonstrated his dedication to the Lakers.

Aside from enhancing Luka’s physique, the Lakers have surrounded him with a better supporting cast. Pelinka signed former D.P.O.Y. Marcus Smart and former No.1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton to team-friendly two-year deals. 

Both of them have expressed their excitement to play alongside their former rival, and they were present with the other new signings to congratulate Dončić on his new lucrative deal. 

Expectations This Season and Beyond

With the roster’s superstar talent and improved depth, they’re expected to exceed last year’s 50-32 regular season record.  

Luka was asked about the pressure of raising another banner in the Crypto.com Arena. He’s embracing the responsibility of being a Laker, especially as the franchise player. 

“It’s an honor, you know?, many, many great players have played here,” said Dončić. “So, obviously I wanna add one more up there and that’s what we’re working for.” 

We’re about to witness the best version of Luka, and he has already lead a team to the NBA Finals. It’ll be difficult given the current landscape of the Western Conference. Numerous teams, including the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and former champions Denver Nuggets, have all made massive improvements. 

According to ESPNBET, the Lakers are tied with the Clippers for the fifth-best odds to win the Western Conference, at +1000. This places them around the fourth or fifth seed, while the reigning champions, Oklahoma City Thunder, are +155.

OKC has one of the youngest rosters in the league, so the Lakers need to capitalize on their championship window.

What Luka’s Contract Means For LeBron 

Every member of the franchise knew the importance of a Dončić extension the moment he became a Laker. It was clear he became the centerpiece, even though James is still on the team.

On the Sunday afternoon of June 29th, he picked up his $52.6 million player option and will enter this season with one year left on his contract. Information about the contract negotiations leaked two weeks later during the Summer League, and ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin revealed that James’ agent Rich Paul never asked for an extension from the Lakers, nor did he request a trade.

Even though many rumours are beginning to swirl, Pelinka reassured the L.A. media that discussions with James are going well. 

His age appears to have made the front office hesitant to offer him an extension.

Will The King Relinquish His Throne?

James has just finished his 22nd NBA season, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists. Only nine players averaged more points than he did this season. His scoring decline is due to an unselfish play style.

Playing alongside Dončić, who averaged 28.2 points per game, has absorbed the majority of the usage, and Austin Reaves also averaged 20.2 points last season.

Before the arrival of Dončić and the rise of Reaves, James averaged 27.5 points per game between the 2020-21 and 2023-24 seasons. He hasn’t regressed much since then, so it’s beneficial for both parties to come to an agreement.

Pelinka has expressed the desire for LeBron to retire in Los Angeles, and signing an extension allows the 4x NBA champion to chase a fifth ring on a contender in the final years of his illustrious career.

James is set to become a free agent in the summer of 2026, and this season could be his last in L.A.

The second the Dončić extension became official, it became clear that it will be his team for as long as he is wearing a Laker uniform.