5 things to get excited about for next Lakers season

It has been a wild offseason for the Lakers, who revamped their roster around Luka Doncic and are preparing to try to compete for their first championship since 2020.

There’s a lot of uncertainty after they lost their superstar of the last eight years in LeBron James and underwent their second ownership change in the last 14 months, but there’s also a lot to be excited about.

Here are the five things Lakers fans have to look forward to heading into next season:

1. Luka Doncic is on a mission

After James chose to go to the 76ers in free agency, the Lakers are unequivocally Doncic’s team. For the first time in his career, he took all of his teammates to his home in Slovenia this summer to host a minicamp to build chemistry.

Doncic is clearly taking the responsibility of being the Lakers’ superstar very seriously. He knows he’s playing for a 17-time championship organization and all eyes are going to be on him to lead the team back atop the league.

Last season, Doncic led the league in scoring (33.5 points), finished third in assists (8.3) and was fourth in MVP voting before he suffered a hamstring strain that sidelined him for the playoffs.

This season, here’s to betting he’s going to be on a personal mission to carry the roster he helped select deep into the postseason.

2. Austin Reaves is due for a breakout season

Reaves signed the richest contract in NBA history this offseason for a player who went undrafted. Doncic wanted him as his sidekick. He has officially gone from being one of the league’s wonderful surprises to becoming one of the torchbearers for the NBA’s second-winningest franchise.

Reaves had so many moments last season where he proved he’s a star, including a 51-point performance followed by a 41-point performance in October and a jaw-dropping floater at the buzzer during a game against Denver in March.

Now expectations are going to be even higher for a player who scraped his way into the league and is now a borderline All-Star.

The Lakers went all in on Kessler, whom Doncic wanted as his center. They acquired him from the Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, signing him to a four-year, $130 million contract.

So, they essentially mortgaged their future for him.

How does Kessler feel about that?

“I’m going to run through a brick wall for them,” Kessler said during his introductory Lakers news conference in July in Las Vegas.

Kessler, who’s one of the league’s top shot blockers and rebounders, has every reason to pour out his heart for Doncic and the Lakers.That’s good news considering they need him to transform into a superstar to have any chance in the very crowded Western Conference.

4. The Lakers‘ new owners have a lot to prove

After Mark Walter stunningly sold the Lakers to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, there were a lot of questions around the team. But there’s also a lot of optimism, especially considering there’s a federal law enforcement probe into Walter’s financial affairs.

The Lakers have a fresh start under Iger, the former CEO of Disney, and Kushner, a venture capitalist.

While Iger’s and Kushner’s plans have yet to take form, there’s hope that things could trend upward for the Lakers under the new owners who are eager to prove themselves in their new endeavor.

5. The Lakers have been front and center

Say what you will about the Lakers, who have been embroiled in a seemingly endless cascade of drama all summer — ranging from James leaving, to new ownership, to more Buss family drama — but the Lakers are still dominating the spotlight.

The Lakers are exciting. They’re the talk of the league. They’re full of surprises.

Regardless of what happens, it’s obvious that next season is going to be a fun-filled thrill ride full of twists and turns that captivates the basketball world’s attention.

Cheers to the adventure being around the corner.