Lakers Rumors: Luka Doncic Enjoying Time In Los Angeles, Likely To Stay Long-Term
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The Los Angeles Lakers’ fortunes changed upside down over a month ago when they somehow were able to land Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks.
The trade shook the NBA landscape and was immediately met with confusion and anger from the rest of the league. The Lakers appeared stuck in a post-LeBron James world, but with Doncic on board they have the next face of their franchise for the foreseeable future.
Doncic was happy in Dallas and never indicated he wanted to leave, but now is forced to figure out his new life in Los Angeles. So far, the 26-year-old has slowly started to get comfortable and on the court he believes he is finally starting to feel like himself.
In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Shams Charania of ESPN said he believes Doncic will stay with the Lakers long-term:
“In talking to people around Luka Doncic over the last 72 hours, I was at that Lakers-Clippers game on Sunday, he had no intention ever of leaving Dallas. He had just bought a new home in Dallas go for a lofty price. He did not want to go anywhere. You think of a player coming from abroad, they're very committed. They're loyal, and that's how he viewed himself with the Mavericks. One team, one city forever. And I think that's gonna carry over to the Lakers. I think he's loving his time in L.A., I think he's loving the Lakers. You think about what the Lakers brand is, it's treating stars like stars. It's Hollywood, it's making the star players bigger than life. And that's what we're gonna see with Luka Doncic.”
The Lakers may have their fault as a franchise, but one of the best things they do is take care of star players and Doncic appears to be no exception. On the flip side, the city offers Doncic and his family plenty while the fanbase has already grown to embrace them.
Doncic is under contract for the 2025-26 season and has a player option for the 2026-27 season that he will almost assuredly opt out of if he doesn’t sign an extension prior. Regardless of his contract situation, though, Doncic appears set to carve out a new future in L.A.
Luka Doncic has realization Lakers fans have known for a while
Since coming to the Lakers, Luka Doncic has enjoyed the benefits of playing for Los Angeles and its rabid fanbase. However, Doncic acknowledged he has learned that the trope of players missing time just to come back and play the Lakers is indeed a real thing.
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