Lakers promised Luka Doncic a roster built around his strengths

May 12, 2026 2:59 PM

When Luka Doncic discussed his extension with the Los Angeles Lakers last summer, he reportedly wanted clarity on the franchise’s long-term plans and roster vision.

According to reports, the Lakers assured Doncic they intended to build a balanced team similar to the Dallas Mavericks roster that reached the 2024 NBA Finals – a group specifically constructed to maximize his skill set.

That includes finding a lob-catching center capable of protecting the rim, surrounding the Slovenian guard with reliable 3-and-D players, and adding another playmaker to help handle offensive responsibilities.

The Lakers are expected to aggressively pursue those roster upgrades this offseason as they continue building around their superstar.

Doncic has played 8 seasons for the Mavericks and Lakers. He has averaged 29.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.2 assists in 514 regular-season games.

He was selected to play in 5 All-Star games, and has won the Rookie of the Year award.