Luka Doncic’s reign with the Los Angeles Lakers begins now. The Slovenian prepared for his first full season with the Purple and Gold by undergoing an immense physical transformation. The impact of the same jumped out during his EuroBasket 2025 campaign with Slovenia. He was in contention for being the best defender while being named to the tournament’s All-Star five.

Likewise, Laker Nation is buzzing. It’s partly because of Doncic’s tremendous improvements through his transformation. However, following a dramatic trade, he’s now fully committed to the Lakers. “The championship — that’s our goal. It always has to be our goal,” he said in a recent interview. And for the first time in a while, those words breathe relief.

Byron Scott saw the same vision when he was part of the Showtime Lakers with Magic Johnson. That’s exactly how he feels with Doncic and LeBron James at the helm. “I mean, it makes a lot of difference when Luka’s in great shape. Like you said he looks like he’s a 110% committed to the Lakers organization this year. With him and LeBron James, you know when you got two of the best players in the NBA on the same team and both of them are committed. It’s going to be a wonderful season,” he told TMZ.

He isn’t alone. The entire Lakers organization views Luka Doncic as the player to usher them to an NBA championship. Notably, Rob Pelinka said it was “a monumental moment in Lakers history” when the five-time All-NBA first team member signed his $165 million extension. After his transformation, the energy in the building has shifted completely. Reports have noted Doncic dropped nearly 15 pounds, sharpened his lateral quickness, and arrived at EuroBasket looking leaner, quicker, and more locked in defensively. The results showed as he ranked among the top five in defensive efficiency across the tournament.

There might have been some drama to begin with as LeBron James pondered his future. But he’s returning with the vigor of chasing championships. Doncic’s efforts in the offseason forwarded his desperation to wear the crown on his head. And the Lakers have also made moves to aid the glorious tandem in their objective.

The Lakers have addressed a lot in the offseason

Even when Doncic arrived midway through the season, the Lakers were primed as championship contenders. But they got bounced in the first round. A number of reasons led to that underwhelming outcome. They lacked a potent center, the team’s defense didn’t offer much resistance, and Doncic was still dealing with leaving Dallas, a place he thought was home.

There’s no doubts about Luka Doncic wanting to succeed in LA anymore. Additionally, the Lakers’ front office made valuable additions to address their flaws.

Notably, they gave Doncic an interior threat through Deandre Ayton. The former Suns center has been to the NBA Finals. He now has the chance to play with two great orchestrators who will actively feed him the ball. A former number one pick, Ayton has the potential to play a massive role for the Lakers with his size and rebounding prowess this season.

The Lakers also took advice from their Slovenian keystone. They signed Marcus Smart, a defensive anchor who allows JJ Redick to experiment with various dynamics on the floor. With Reaves, he can run three-guard lineups or even choose the backcourt depending on the situation. They aren’t big names, but the Lakers never needed that. Smart immediately patches their perimeter defense, giving the Lakers a stopper they lacked in last year’s playoffs. Paired with Ayton’s interior presence, LA has essentially rebuilt its defensive spine, something that cost them dearly in the first-round exit.

Luka Doncic and LeBron James are very much capable of working together. The Lakers needed personnel who could take some of the workload off their shoulders. Smart and Ayton fit that profile. If it all gels together, the Lakers are surely a threat in the West. They’ve taken lessons from last season and are returning with a fortified roster that suits their mix.