Luka Doncic is wasting no time starting his era in Los Angeles, just weeks after finally becoming the face of the franchise following LeBron James‘ departure to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Luka Doncic is reportedly bringing the entire Lakers roster to his home country of Slovenia for a four-day minicamp in August as they prepare for the 2026-27 season, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The trip will include on-court workouts, golf, sightseeing in Ljubljana, and team-bonding exercises before training camp officially begins. This is just one more sign that shows the Lakers have fully entered the Luka Doncic era.
For the first time since LeBron arrived in 2018, there is someone else setting the tone for the franchise. And Luka seems to be taking on that responsibility wholeheartedly.
The timing of this could not be more important. The Lakers went through a major transformation this offseason.
After James elected to leave in free agency, they brought in as many as nine new players and aggressively reshaped the roster around Luka. They re-signed Austin Reaves, added Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ziaire Williams, Kevon Looney and Matisse Thybulle.
Many of the newcomers will be expected to take on major roles. But chemistry will be one of the biggest factors that determines whether the Lakers can be contenders in a loaded Western Conference.
That is why this initiative from Luka is so important. The Lakers already held a small minicamp during the Las Vegas Summer League. But now, this gathering will include the entire roster.
Instead of waiting for training camp, which usually begins in September, Luka wants to build relationships with his new teammates nearly two months before opening night.
Surprisingly, this is not a concept that is entirely new for the Lakers. During his time in L.A., LeBron often organized player-led minicamps in Las Vegas before training camp. Those workouts were an important part of the team’s preparation every season. They helped players like Austin Reaves make strong impressions before earning bigger roles.
But now, Luka is starting his own version.
Rather than having it in Los Angeles or Las Vegas, he is welcoming the Lakers to Ljubljana, which allows his teammates not only to practice but also to experience his hometown and spend time away from basketball.
The itinerary also includes golf, another hobby that Luka has recently embraced alongside Reaves. There will also be sightseeing throughout the Slovenian capital. All these activities might seem minor, but championship teams’ habits are often built through relationships formed away from the court.
Trust is not just built in practice. It develops over dinner, conversation, travel and shared experiences. That is especially important for a Lakers team that wants to rely on continuity after going through so much roster turnover.
Luka was also heavily involved in shaping the organization. He made it clear early in the offseason that he wanted an A-list center, and the Lakers went out and got Walker Kessler. Luka also made it clear that he wanted to continue playing with Austin Reaves. And the Lakers gave Reaves a max contract and made sure to re-sign him. He also reportedly had conversations that helped recruit Matisse Thybulle.
This marks the second straight season in which Luka has played an active role in roster construction, showing his influence within the franchise.
This minicamp is just one more example of that leadership.
No one around the league sees the Lakers as immediate championship favorites. This roster seems deeper than last season, but integrating so many new pieces will take time and patience. That is why every extra day together matters.
This four-day trip won’t determine whether the Lakers can compete for a title, but it can build an important foundation as they head into training camp. For Luka, this is a chance to establish the culture that he wants to build going forward.
The Lakers are no longer LeBron James’ team.
They’re Luka Doncic’s.
Before his first full season as the unquestioned leader of one of basketball’s most iconic franchises, he’s making sure his teammates arrive at training camp already connected. If the Lakers hit the ground running immediately this fall, this trip to Slovenia might ultimately be remembered as the first step in the next era of Lakers basketball.
