The Los Angeles Lakers are banking on Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to carry them in their post-LeBron James era.
The Lakers have finally embraced Doncic as their main superstar after James departed in free agency and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. They also brought back Austin Reaves and paid him a hefty four-year, $180 million contract.
Doncic and Reaves put up impressive numbers last season. Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.6 steals to finish fourth in MVP voting. Reaves had his breakout year, averaging 23.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 5.5 apg and 1.1 spg.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves Named Sixth-Best Duo in the NBA
GettyAustin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
CBS Sports’ John Gonzalez ranked the Top 12 duos in the NBA ahead of the new season. He gave the nod to the San Antonio Spurs‘ Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle or Dylan Harper.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were placed at No. 6, with Gonzalez pointing out how successful the Los Angeles Lakers were when they made the duo the first and second option, respectively.
“When the Lakers empowered Doncic and Reaves as their main offensive options, relegating LeBron to third in usage rate for the first time in his career, L.A. went on a 15-game winning streak late in the season and played some of its best basketball in ages,” Gonzalez wrote. “Now LeBron plays in Philadelphia, and Doncic and Reaves are back to see if they can lead the new-look Lakers through the Western Conference gauntlet without the king.”
However, Gonzalez also acknowledged the Lakers’ new ownership and how it could impact Doncic and Reaves, especially if their new roster falters next season.
Doncic has a player option for the 2028-29 season, which could see him enter free agency in the summer of 2028.
They are also the only backcourt duo on the list, though any duo from the Philadelphia 76ers, including Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, was ranked fifth.
Luka Doncic Welcomes Lakers Teammates to Slovenia
With the Los Angeles Lakers having multiple new players, Luka Doncic invited the team to his home country of Slovenia this offseason. The entire roster outside of Cameron Carr, who is attending a league-mandate rookie orientation, made the trip on Thursday.
The mini training camp will last for around four to five days and will include several activities, as per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
“I think when they get to the hotel, there are going to be more gift bags,” Shelburne said, via Lakers Nation. And there are all sorts of cool Slovenian things. It’s like a bachelorette trip. It really is, and then they’re going to go to Luka’s favorite restaurant.
“They’re going to go fishing on Lake Bled, which is this really fancy lake there. I guarantee there’s some golf involved at some point. There’s going to be some golf, there’s going to be bonding. It’s like five days. It’s a long trip to go on with your team.”
The Lakers’ official training camp is scheduled to start on September 29. Their first preseason game is on October 5 against the Sacramento Kings.
Lakers’ Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves Ranked Sixth Among NBA Duos