Luka Doncic stepping up as leader Lakers need him to be

As the Lakers move on from the franchise’s LeBron James era, they understood many things would depart with the league’s all-time leading scorer.

The biggest among them: the four-time league MVP’s voice. And his leadership after achieving virtually every accolade in the NBA.

James’ guidance, and his two-decades-plus of playing experience in the NBA, can’t be replicated.

But the Lakers are ready for their current stars to step up as leaders in light of James’ departure.

And Luka Doncic is ready to take that mantle as the Lakers fully entrench themselves in their next era.

If that wasn’t already clear, Doncic made it evident during the Lakers’ minicamp in his home country of Slovenia last month.

“Probably the leadership role,” Doncic responded when asked what matters to him more now compared to five years ago toward the end of a 24-minute video posted on his YouTube page Friday about the camp in Slovenia.

Doncic added: “Trying to be a leader. Five years ago, I was [three years in] the league. I wasn’t the leader I was supposed to [be]. So, leadership is an important part in my case now.”

The Lakers already had an idea of what Doncic brought to the table in this regard since being traded to the franchise in February 2025.

Him treating his teammates to a Porsche Driving Experience in October 2025 during the preseason and surprising Lakers players, coaches and basketball operations staff with e-bikes as a Christmas present last year showcased his growth since arriving in Los Angeles.

But the Lakers got a closer look at what the team’s leadership could look like moving forward with Doncic as the face of the franchise.

The Slovenian superstar organized a five-day trip for his teammates, which included a chartered flight, multiple dining experiences at Doncic’s favorite restaurants, tours of the sights in Ljubljana (river cruise and Ljubljana Castle among them), golfing, rowing at Lake Bled and basketball activities.

His teammates raved about the experience.

To the point where they wrote Doncic handwritten notes to show him their appreciation for the experience.

“I’m definitely coming back,” Collin Sexton said. “We had an amazing time. Great experience. Nothing but good vibes, nothing but love. Luka, man, appreciate you for bringing us out to your country and taking us back where it all started.”

Leadership will be paramount for the Lakers moving forward.

James was among nine Lakers from the 2025-26 team who didn’t return for this upcoming season.

Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes and Luke Kennard were among the other departures.

Doncic, Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia are the only four players from last season’s team who played at least 600 regular-season minutes that are returning for 2026-27.

Coach JJ Redick stressed the importance of connectedness during Thursday’s joint availability with president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka.

In his eyes, the NBA’s best teams over the last six to seven years have also been the most connected teams.

And because that isn’t a coincidence, that’ll be part of his messaging to the team throughout 2026-27 as Redick enters his third year as Lakers coach.

“There were times last year, there were times my first year where the team was connected,” Redick said. “I really believe this group is gonna be connected from Day 1. And they already are.”

And they are, in part, because of Doncic stepping up as a leader.

“There’s a lot of new guys on the team,” Doncic said. “Building chemistry is very important. That was the first thought, just to get the guys together. That’s why I wanted to do it.”