The Los Angeles Lakers have entered a defining new era. Their front office changed, their roster shifted, and the franchise now rests on Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. With the 2026-27 season only a month away, Doncic is confident in the impact he’s had since joining in 2025.
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“I feel like I’ve been the leader since I got here. I felt like the team was missing someone to step up, and I knew I had to take that responsibility,” the 27-year-old Slovenian star told PlayersTribune.
After LeBron James left in the offseason, Doncic has stepped up to lead the team even outside the court. To help build team chemistry, he booked a trip to Slovenia for 14 of his teammates.
“We want to win a championship, and that remains the goal,” he added in the X clip. “We have the talent and the pieces. Now we have to put it together and go get it.”
After Doncic’s arrival in February ’25, the Lakers failed to make deep playoff runs. They were the third seed in 2025, but lost to the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves 1-4 in the first round.
Then, last year they beat the Houston Rockets in the first round before being swept 0-4 by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With players like Walker Kessler, 3-time NBA champion Kevon Looney, and others on the roster, LA has a solid case to present in the West next season. Moreover, Luka believes his leadership will require more than setting an example on the court.
Doncic, in his first full season with the LA Lakers, played an MVP-caliber game in 64 games. He averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. His shooting split reads 47.6/36.6/78.0.
However, his season came to an abrupt end in April during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 27-year-old sustained a Grade 2 hamstring strain that put him on the bench throughout the postseason.
But now, during the summer break, Luka Doncic has focused on his fitness, precisely his weight.
Luka Doncic is causing confusion about his weight
Martin Pavcnik of SportKlub Slovenia reported that Doncic recently reached the final stage of his initial individual program. Luka Doncic began by prioritizing recovery before turning his attention to overall fitness.
Anze Macek oversaw the demanding program, with the star guard working extensively in the gym and on the basketball court.
“Doncic has reached his target weight of approximately 105 kilograms and entered his best physical condition in a considerable period. He had not yet progressed to contact work or full-speed basketball drills at the time of the report,” according to reports noted by Heavy’s Burtland Dixon.
Now, what is the confusion about his weight? The apparent contradiction may stem from differing definitions of basketball activity. The latest update suggests he has yet to resume full-contact work and unrestricted basketball drills.
As you know, when Doncic arrived in Los Angeles last February, his weight was at the center of all discussions. “Fat Luka” faced criticism as people began questioning his fitness regimen. Precisely because the then-Dallas Mavericks GM, Nico Harrison, had pointed out his injuries, recovery, and conditioning as major reasons for letting him go.
But that summer, Luka Doncic lost around 31 pounds and stunned everyone. Even this summer, the Lakers’ beacon of hope is doing something similar. And therefore, all eyes are fixed on him. “What will Luka do next season?” is a common question he will address when the season kicks in.