Luka Doncic has officially turned the page on his time in Dallas. Per his manager Lara Beth Seager, the 5x All-NBA guard has let go of the Mavericks trade and is fully focused on winning in Los Angeles.
“He’s moved on,” Seager told The Athletic. “He’s only looking forward. And he’s here. He wants to get the best players here. He wants to win, and he knows it starts with him. And he’s here. He wants to get the best players here.”
Luka never asked for a trade from the Mavericks, and he was blindsided when Dallas suddenly moved on. Though blindsided by the trade, Luka kept quiet — even as the Mavericks began publicly bashing him for being out of shape and uncommitted to his craft. It led to months of speculation about Doncic’s commitment and leadership style, but Seager says Doncic has already moved past it.
“He wants to win, and he knows it starts with him,” Seager said. “And I think that’s what he proved this offseason. ‘OK, everyone wants to say or people think that they know me or I’m not a leader or I’m this way, or I’m that way, I don’t care. They can think and say whatever they want. I’m gonna show them who I am.’”
For the Lakers, that mentality shift could be the final piece in their title puzzle. Despite career averages of 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, there is a strong belief that Doncic can take his game to another level with enough time in the gym and work behind the scenes.
In Dallas, Luka’s biggest flaws were on the defensive end, and he was exposed by the Celtics during his Finals run in 2024. Between that blemish and reports of laziness with his training and conditioning, Luka slowly fell out of favor with the Mavericks, and by the time he arrived in L.A., his game and his leadership were under fire.
In 28 games with the Purple and Gold, Luka has shown flashes of greatness with averages of 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game on 53.0% shooting. While his first playoff run in Los Angeles ultimately ended in a first-round defeat, Luka has never been more driven or committed to breaking the cycle of losing and finally winning his first NBA championship.
Not only does he have the ultimate authority on the Lakers, he’s now under contract through 2028 on a massive new deal that could eventually lead to the richest supermax contract in NBA history. To reward his loyalty, the Lakers have gone all-out to assemble a championship roster, with several notable signings that include Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia.
If Luka’s offseason message is any indication, this isn’t just about redemption; it’s about legacy. After years of being doubted, dismissed, and criticized for everything from his defense to his diet, Doncic is taking full control of his narrative. He’s in shape, he’s locked in, and he’s surrounded by a front office that’s willing to go all-in on his vision. Now, with the weight of Dallas behind him and a supermax future ahead, Doncic is building something in L.A. that might last for years to come.
