Luka Doncic said he is embracing a new leadership challenge with the Los Angeles Lakers after LeBron James’ departure, while expressing excitement about the team’s revamped roster during media day on Monday, September 28.
With James now in Philadelphia, Doncic enters his second full season with the Lakers as the team’s central star. He said the situation represents a new challenge, but one he has experienced before in his career.
“It feels great. Obviously it’s a new challenge,” Doncic said. “I was in this position in my career a lot of times. So it’s not new to me. But I feel great. I feel excited and I’m, like I said, I’m ready to go.”
Doncic also emphasized that leadership should not rest on one player. He said the entire Lakers roster will have a role in holding one another accountable.
“I see myself in this role, you know, nothing new, but it’s very important,” Doncic said. “Everybody, the whole team, you know, will look up to me, I will look up to them. And it’s just there should be many leaders, you know, we should be able to be holding each other accountable.”
The Lakers spent the offseason reshaping the roster around Doncic and Austin Reaves. Walker Kessler was the biggest addition, arriving in a sign-and-trade before agreeing to a four-year, $129.5 million contract.
Doncic said he strongly wanted Kessler in Los Angeles after facing him multiple times in the NBA.
“I really wanted him. I think the organization wanted him, I wanted him, all the players wanted him,” Doncic said. “So I think it’s an amazing fit for us.”
He highlighted Kessler’s defensive ability while also pointing to his offensive development as an area that can help the Lakers.
Doncic also praised the rest of Los Angeles’ offseason additions, describing them as underrated players who can contribute to the team.
“I think everybody that we signed, you know, it’s underrated players,” he said. “They’re not afraid of anything. I think we have some great signings and I’m very excited to go to play with them.”
The Lakers also used their offseason to strengthen relationships within the new-look roster. The team traveled to Slovenia for several days, where Doncic hosted his teammates and participated in basketball and other activities.
“It was very important for me to show them where I’m from,” Doncic said. “It was an amazing trip. It was very important for me to show them where I’m from and I think everybody liked it.”
The Slovenian star said the trip was designed largely to help the players get to know one another away from basketball before training camp began.
Doncic also provided an update on his hamstring recovery, saying he took a cautious approach during the offseason and is now feeling fully prepared for camp.
“I was just taking it slowly. Don’t take no risk,” Doncic said. “But right now I’m feeling great. I feel rested mentally. It feels great, so I can’t wait this to start.”
When asked whether he would have any restrictions entering camp, Doncic gave a straightforward answer: “No restrictions at all.”
Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds in 64 games for the Lakers last season, earning All-NBA First Team honors and finishing fourth in MVP voting.
