“Championship. That is our goal. That should always be the goal. Our goal is championships,” Luka Doncic declared when asked about his expectations for the Lakers’ 2025-26 campaign. After suffering a first-round playoff exit earlier this year, the Slovenian superstar spent the offseason reshaping both his body and his game. Reports suggest he shed nearly 10 to 12 kilograms (22 to 26 pounds) over the summer, determined to return sharper than ever.

EuroBasket 2025 has become the proving ground for those improvements, offering Doncic his first real test against elite competition since the weight loss. And judging by his own reflections on how he feels on the court, his progress could be exactly the reassurance Lakers head coach JJ Redick was hoping for—and even a few powerful Lakers decision-makers—were hoping for.

Addressing his physical change during a recent official press conference. Regarding how he feels now vs before, the Lakers star admitted that “Honestly, nothing different. Just probably less tired, a little bit quicker. Nothing specific. At the end of the day, I want to win games and help my team achieve more.”

According to Silver Screen and Roll reporter Edwin Garcia, a key factor in the Lakers’ losing the playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves was their inability “to execute down the stretch”. In light of this, Jovan Buha reported the Lakers head coach saying, during his exit interview, that some of his players were in phenomenal shape, but others needed to get in “championship shape”.

At the same time, Redick had denied fatigue being a factor in the Lakers’ faltering in the 4th quarter of Game 4 of the Lakers-Timberwolves series. After all, according to him, “our two best players missed layups at the rim. I don’t think they missed layups because they were tired”. Nevertheless, given Redick’s remarks, Luka Doncic’s observation on being “less tired, a little bit quicker” helps create some assurance regarding the 26-year-old’s ability to execute down the stretch.

Until JJ Redick publicly speaks, one would not know his true feelings regarding Luka Doncic’s recent self-observation. Fortunately, as recent reports reveal, the Slovenian’s recent performances have won over at least two major Lakers executives.

Luka Doncic Reveals Being Touched By Rob Pelinka And Jeanie Buss’s Visit To Europe: “Great to see them”

The recent remarks from Luka Doncic came right as Slovenia prepares to tip off its Group D campaign on August 28, against Poland. As the final practice before the matchup was underway, reports revealed that Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and team president/former majority owner Jeanie Buss personally made the trip to Poland to see Luka Doncic in action. The duo was joined by a part of a contingent of Lakers staff that also reportedly included Kurt and Linda Rambis, and Dr. Leroy Sims, the director of player performance and health.

This gesture personally touched Doncic. In a statement to reporters, he admitted that “I mean, it means a lot. It’s a long flight. I think it’s like 11-12 hours, so it means a lot, you know, for them just to be here to support me. We had a good lunch today, so it was great to see them”.

The visit gave a chance for the Lakers’ top brass to see how much Luka Doncic has improved following his offseason work and weight reduction. Rob Pelinka personally had nothing but praise to give out, as he stated that “He’s in great shape, really committed to working hard this summer. And to be able to watch that in person was worth flying over the ocean to be with him.”

From Rob Pelinka’s praise of Luka Doncic, claiming to be quicker and less tired now, the expectations for the Slovenian to do well have only increased. Whether he lives up to them is something that remains to be seen.