The Lakers are now the Luka Lakers.There is no more LeBron, and the keys have been handed over to one of the top assets in the entire league.
How has that worked out for Los Angeles through the early portion of the season? The team is 4-1, with the lone loss coming against a surprisingly good Portland team.To start the season, they've beaten the Warriors by 22, the Clippers by eight, the Jazz by nine, and the Clippers by 16.
None of those three teams will be playoff contenders.Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic celebrates his three-point basket during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday, Nov.25, 2025, in Los Angeles.
(AP Photo/Jae C.Hong)They now take on the Warriors for the second time in the early season as part of the NBA Cup Group Play.
This is the third game in four nights for the Lakers, but not a back-to-back.Still, legs could be a bit tired.
However, this is almost certainly a game that Luka circled on the calendar.On Opening Night, Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg was yapping at Luka for much of the game, and then doubled-down with comments about him in the media.
Luka does not back down, and Luka does not forget.LUKA DONCIC BUYS OUT ENTIRE PARKING LOT TO GIVE LAKERS FANS FREE PARKING FOR SEASON OPENERIn fairness to Lendeborg he was quite effective when guarding Luka directly.However, the Lakers crushed the Warriors and moved on.
Now the Warriors get a chance to return the favor.It hasn't been a great season for Golden State so far with two wins and three losses.
However, the Warriors did win back-to-back games on the road with very good performances against the Nuggets and the Timberwolves.Lendeborg was the leading scorer in the win over the Nuggets, and Stephen Curry went ballistic in Minnesota.Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors shoots a free throw against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second quarter of a preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on Oct.
13, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nev.The Warriors...