Luka Doncic stepping up as leader Lakers need him to be

As the Lakers move on from the franchise’s LeBron James era, they understood many things would depart with the league’s all-time leading scorer.The biggest among them: the four-time league MVP’s voice.And his leadership after achieving virtually every accolade in the NBA. James’ guidance, and his two-decades-plus of playing experience in the NBA, can’t be replicated. But the Lakers are ready for their current stars to step up as leaders in light of James’ departure. And Luka Doncic is ready to take that mantle as the Lakers fully entrench themselves in their next era.If that wasn’t already clear, Doncic made it evident during the Lakers’ minicamp in his home country of Slovenia last month.“Probably the leadership role,” Doncic responded when asked what matters to him more now compared to five years ago toward the end of a 24-minute video posted on his YouTube page Friday about the camp in Slovenia. Doncic added: “Trying to be a leader.

Five years ago, I was [three years in] the league.I wasn’t the leader I was supposed to [be].

So, leadership is an important part in my case now.”  The Lakers already had an idea of what Doncic brought to the table in this regard since being traded to the franchise in February 2025. Him treating his teammates to a Porsche Driving Experience in October 2025 during the preseason and surprising Lakers players, coaches and basketball operations staff with e-bikes as a Christmas present last year showcased his growth since arriving in Los Angeles. But the Lakers got a closer look at what the team’s leadership could look like moving forward with Doncic as the face of the franchise.The Slovenian superstar organized a five-day trip for his teammates, which included a chartered flight, multiple dining experiences at Doncic’s favorite restaurants, tours of the sights in Ljubljana (river cruise and Ljubljana Castle among them), golfing, rowing at Lake Bled and basketball activities. His teammates raved ab...