Luka Doncic is expected to take over as the face of the Los Angeles Lakers. When the team traded for him last season, he was in the middle of recovering from a leg injury and never quite got up to full strength.
In 28 games with the Lakers last season, he posted 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists on 43.8% shooting from the floor and 37.9% from deep. Those numbers are elite, to be sure, but they aren’t quite up to par with the Doncic fans have come to know.
While the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder are the class of the Western Conference, Fred VanVleet’s injury leaves the third seed wide open, and the Lakers will be gunning for it.
In order to compete, Doncic will have to unlock a new level of play.
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 06: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball defended by OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on March 06, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Expectations for Luka Doncic Are Outlined
In his last fully healthy season, the 2023-24 campaign with the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic led the league in scoring with 33.9 points per game and offered more than nine rebounds and assists per contest. That year, he led the Mavericks to the Finals and enjoyed his first top-three finish in the MVP race.
Even that might not be enough.
“My big question for Luka is, can he be, or maybe will he be, the best player in the world?” pondered Lakers’ insider Jovan Buha on his self-titled podcast on September 23rd. “He has that potential to be the best player in the world, the best player in the league. And if he goes back to who he was a couple of years ago with the better conditioning, being a better shape, and the improved defense, all of a sudden, maybe we are talking about the best player in the league.”
While Doncic had a solid supporting cast in Dallas, headlined by Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Austin Reaves are the best second and third options he has ever had, and after a successful summer with Slovenia and shedding weight, he looks poised to take over.
How Doncic Can Take the Leap to World’s Best
Even in Doncic’s best seasons, he was not the best player in the world, although that’s not really his fault.
When he entered the league, Stephen Curry and James were still at their peaks, and as Doncic quickly ascended, Nikola Jokic emerged as a three-time MVP. Of course, it helps too that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t battle injuries and a trade like Doncic did.
With Reaves and James playing massive roles, Doncic will have to step up and play a new job: solid defender. Reaves and James can score with the best of them from all over the court, and James is one of the best floor generals of all time, limiting Doncic’s need to facilitate.
Doncic’s defense could make or break the Lakers‘ season.
“The increased focus on conditioning, I’m not going to say it’s going to make him a plus defender, not going to make him a positive defender, but is it something that is going to allow him to do a better job staying in front of his man on the perimeter?” asked Trevor Lane.
To Doncic’s credit, he has always had a full plate. Yes, concerns and criticisms about his defense are valid, and have been for his entire career. However, even with Irving, Doncic was the main scoring and passing threat and was an elite rebounder. On a better Lakers‘ team, maybe he can thrive as a two-way guard for the first time in his career.
Sky-High Expectation For Luka Doncic Revealed Ahead of Lakers’ Season