When the Lakers traded for Luka Doncic at last season’s deadline, their fans were more than happy. It is not every day that a generational talent under 26 years old, with an international fan base, falls into your lap. But in a way, that happened to the Lakers, with the Dallas Mavericks discussing only with Los Angeles for a possible trade. Things didn’t work out exactly the best in his first half season with the Lakers. Luka helped the team get the third seed in the Western Conference, but they lost in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Luka Doncic Vows to Deliver What Lakers Fans Crave the Most
After a full offseason with the Lakers, Luka Doncic hopes to bring something their fans are used to: a championship. Speaking with the Lakers social media team, Doncic talked about how he wants to be remembered. When asked, “As a Laker, what do you hope to be known for in Los Angeles?” Without hesitation, he answered, “The guy that brought championships to the city.”
Winning a championship in Los Angeles definitely has a huge value. Nearly every superstar who has played in Los Angeles has managed to deliver one. The list is long, spanning Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, and more. The Lakers are the second-most-winning franchise in league history, right behind the Boston Celtics.
Can the Lakers Win a Championship With Luka?
Judging by his career so far, there is no doubt that Doncic can lead a team to the Finals. He has made the Conference Finals two times and the Finals once so far. Right now, the Lakers are tied for the sixth-best championship odds for the 2025-2026 season.
They are behind teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and Houston Rockets. They have the same championship odds as the Los Angeles Clippers, the Timberwolves, and the Orlando Magic.
How Can the Lakers Help Luka?
If we look at their offseason moves, the Lakers are clearly pivoting to building their franchise around Luka. They have him under contract for next season, but he has a player option for the 2026-27 season. The Lakers can offer him an extension in early August, but he might not sign it right away. This summer, Doncic will compete at the EuroBasket with the Slovenian national team. In the past, when he has had obligations with the national team, he has put contract talks aside until the end of the tournament.
One way that the Lakers can entice Luka to sign an extension is to provide him with a team that suits his play style. They can also offer him a no-trade clause, something that not many players have.
But the most important part is improving their team. They added a decent center that can play alongside Luka in Deandre Ayton. And they have LeBron. But, the supporting cast around them is not the best. Both Luka and LeBron need plenty of shooting to be at their best. When there are shooters around them, they have that much more space to operate. If they want to help Luka deliver on his promise of bringing championships to the city, the Lakers need to start adding shooters. Doncic is a top-five player in the league when focused, but like every other star, he needs a good supporting cast.
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