For Luka Doncic, the 2025-26 NBA season represents more than just another chapter in his career. It feels like a reset, a fresh beginning. In a recent interview with Dan Woike of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar made it clear that the transition from Dallas to LA is finally behind him.
“This feels like a start for me.”
“I’m way comfortable. Especially going to training camp, you know, having practice with the guys, like I said, it’s a start for me. But I will feel way more comfortable now.”
That comfort didn’t exist last season. The Lakers acquired Doncic in a blockbuster midseason trade that stunned the basketball world and split opinions in Dallas. Expectations skyrocketed overnight, as pairing LeBron James with Doncic looked like a dream scenario for a franchise with championship ambitions. But the debut run in purple and gold was underwhelming.
The Lakers finished as the No. 3 seed but were bounced in the first round of the playoffs by Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in just five games. Doncic’s fitness, defense, and conditioning were all criticized, with many questioning whether the Lakers had mortgaged their future for a flawed superstar.
Doncic heard all of it. And this summer, he went to work.
He undertook a rigorous offseason transformation, changing his diet, and slimming down noticeably. By the time EuroBasket rolled around, Doncic looked quicker, leaner, and more explosive.
Even though Slovenia’s run ended in the quarterfinals, Doncic’s play particularly on the defensive end was one of the biggest revelations of the tournament. His improved stamina and focus stood out, proving that the criticism may have sparked the biggest transformation of his career.
In Los Angeles, Doncic has doubled down on his commitment to the franchise. He signed a three-year extension this summer, eliminating speculation about his long-term future. Beyond that, he has stepped into an active role in roster-building. He reportedly pushed the front office to bring in Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, moves that bolster the Lakers’ frontcourt depth and defensive toughness.
Perhaps most significantly, Doncic has made it clear that he wants LeBron James to remain with the Lakers until he retires. That partnership one of the greatest players ever handing the keys to the next superstar could define the next era of Lakers basketball.
This is a player who never wanted to leave Dallas. The trade was out of his hands, but he’s embraced the chance to make Los Angeles his new home. For Doncic, the mission is simple now: win a championship, silence the doubts, and etch his name into Lakers history.
The offseason transformation physical, mental, and organizational has set the stage. Luka Doncic is no longer adjusting to life as a Laker. He’s ready to own it.
