From Dallas hero to LA leader
Luka Doncic admitted he was stunned when the Dallas Mavericks traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers, saying he didn’t know how to react or what to say. He worried about upsetting fans on both sides but has since embraced life in Los Angeles.
Now preparing for his first full season as the Lakers’ leader in 2025-26, Doncic shares the franchise’s championship-or-bust mentality. The trade was shocking — like finding out your grandma secretly runs an NBA front office — but Lakers fans already love him.
