EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — It’s safe to say that the Los Angeles Lakers love having Luka Dončić.
While speaking to reporters on Thursday, Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka spoke glowingly about the former Dallas Mavericks superstar.
“Luka’s the world’s greatest offensive player,” Pelinka said. “And for us to be able to have an opportunity as a franchise to have that player in our building every night as a 26-year-old is special. And it requires us to do special things to put a team around him. And that’s what we started this summer. And we’re really, really happy with the way it’s looking so far.”
Lakers Basically Have New Team
The Lakers completely reshaped their roster this summer around Dončić and Austin Reaves. LAL acquired Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz and signed Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kevon Looney, Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle in free agency.
The Lakers did lose LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton from last season’s team. James is on the Philadelphia 76ers, Smart signed with the Houston Rockets, Kennard joined the Phoenix Suns, Hachimura went to the LA Clippers and Ayton was traded to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy.
Dončić will make $49.5 million this upcoming season. He can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2028 by declining his 2028-29 player option worth $57.4 million.
A future Hall of Famer, Dončić has career averages of 29.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game in the regular season and 30.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game in the playoffs with the Mavericks and Lakers. He signed a three-year, $160 million extension with LAL last year.
Dončić: ‘I’ve Gotten Used To Big Changes’
Dončić released a statement over the summer on social media after the Lakers were sold for the second time since he’s been a member of the team.
The Lakers were sold to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for $12.5 billion.
“Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA. I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise,” Dončić posted to X. “I look forward to meeting Josh and Bob so we can get to work building something special in LA together.”
With James gone, Dončić is now the main face of the Lakers franchise.
