NBA legend and Lakers icon Magic Johnson didn’t mince words when asked about the current state of the Los Angeles Lakers and their newest superstar, Luka Doncic.
During an appearance on First Take, Magic delivered a pointed message about leadership, expectations, and conditioning, drawing from his decades of experience with championship-level rosters.
“Luka gotta understand this is not Dallas. To your point, Kobe, bless y’all.. Superstar who led us. Shaq led us to the championship. LeBron, leadership. That’s right. And that’s what’s missing here. And so we shouldn’t have to tell you to be in shape. That should have been you should have been about that. Especially you’re a superstar.”
“So this is gonna be an important year for the Lakers, important offseason for the Lakers. And, we have got to get better and look at the championship. Always look at the Finals. It’s gonna tell you what you have to do in the off-season.”
So the West gotta look at OKC and say, uh-oh. We gotta build a team to beat them. The East gotta say, hey. The Pacers gonna be around, so we gotta have a team to beat them.”
“And so it’s gonna be important, the decisions that Rob and JJ make to improve the roster if we’re gonna compete with all these teams.”
Magic’s words reflect the elevated expectations in Los Angeles, a franchise steeped in championship tradition. Doncic, who was traded to the Lakers earlier this season in a blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, now carries the pressure of leading one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises.
But with that responsibility comes scrutiny, and Johnson made it clear that professionalism, starting with fitness, is non-negotiable.
The Lakers are in a pivotal offseason. They are retooling around Doncic and an aging LeBron James, who may offer another discount to the franchise if it helps land a legitimate difference-maker.
Roster-wise, the Lakers’ offseason strategy has been clear. They desperately need frontcourt help after being physically overmatched by the Timberwolves in the first round. Jaxson Hayes is expected to leave, and without Anthony Davis, the need for not one but two legitimate bigs has grown urgent.
Names like Clint Capela, Steven Adams, and Brook Lopez have emerged as mid-level exception targets, while trade scenarios are circling around players such as Nicolas Claxton, Walker Kessler, and even Zach Collins.
Claxton remains one of the top options due to his fit with Luka’s pick-and-roll game, and his ability to guard the perimeter gives the Lakers needed flexibility defensively.
The Lakers have limited draft capital, one first-round pick, five pick swaps, and expiring contracts but they are expected to be aggressive in the market, exploring creative deals to land size, defense, and shooting. Lonzo Ball has also emerged as a potential comeback candidate on a discounted deal if he can prove his health.
The encouraging news for the Lakers?
Luka seems to be listening. Recent workout videos show Doncic slimmer and quicker, with offseason photos sparking optimism that he’s taking conditioning seriously. For the Lakers to return to championship form, they’ll need their newest star to lead by example, and according to Magic Johnson, that leadership begins long before opening night.
