Luka Doncic’s rise has already pushed him into rare territory, and Lance Stephenson is willing to take the praise even further.
The former NBA guard, who had a brief run with the Lakers, said Doncic belongs at the top of the all-time point guard conversation. Speaking on BIG3, Stephenson didn’t leave much room for debate: "I got Luka at #1"“Is that a hot take? Right now It is but, if Luka stays at this pace he’ll be top 5 ever.”
That kind of statement lands because Doncic has built the résumé to make people listen. In eight NBA seasons, the Lakers star has established himself as one of the league’s elite scorers and passers, and he’s been part of the MVP discussion year after year. Now, after arriving in Los Angeles, he’s drawing even more attention under the brightest spotlight in the sport.
Doncic is only 27, which makes the larger picture even more interesting. He hasn’t been in the league for a full decade, but his name is already being mentioned among the game’s all-time greats.
The challenge ahead is the one that always follows the individual accolades: turning that talent into a title. Former NBA champion Trevor Ariza recently spoke with Lakers On SI about whether Doncic can win a championship with the Lakers, and the organization is clearly acting like the answer can be yes.
With the post-LeBron James era underway, Los Angeles has overhauled the roster this summer and is building around Doncic for the long haul. He’ll be working alongside close friend Austin Reaves, and the front office has added pieces meant to complement his game, including talented young center Walker Kessler, acquired in a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz.
The Lakers are betting that this setup gives Doncic the right runway. If it all comes together, the future in Los Angeles could get very interesting, very fast.
In Other News...
Lakers Title Hopes Come With One Big Luka Concern
Trevor Ariza sees plenty to like in Luka Doncic, and he is not shy about the offensive upside the Lakers have with him driving the show. Speaking to Sports Illustrated, the former NBA wing praised Doncics talent and made clear that a player of his caliber can give Los Angeles a real path into the title mix, especially if the front office can put the right pieces around him.
Arizas bigger concern is the other end of the floor, where he believes the Lakers have to get much better if they want to truly contend. He also pointed to the added burden on Doncic now that LeBron James is gone to the 76ers, a change that leaves the Lakers leaning even more heavily on their new star to carry the load while the roster around him still takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Still Have One Luka Linked Frontcourt Decision To Make
Following his first mini-camp with the Lakers, Luka Doncic sounds encouraged about where this group is headed, and the front office is still sorting through one more possible addition to support that vision. The name in the mix is a familiar one for Doncic: veteran big man Dwight Powell, who spent years alongside him in Dallas and could give Los Angeles another experienced option in the frontcourt.
The Lakers would have to clear a roster spot to make a move, and no official decision has been made yet, which leaves the situation in that familiar offseason holding pattern. For a team trying to build around Doncic while adding enough depth to hold up over the long haul, the Powell question is less about splash and more about fit, familiarity and whether the Lakers decide this is the right time to add another trusted piece. [Read more 🡒]
JJ Redick Just Put His Lakers Rise In A New Light
JJ Redicks path with the Lakers has already moved faster than most first-time head coaches ever get the chance to experience. After two full seasons on the sideline, he enters his third year in charge with a 108-71 record and a roster about to look very different again as Los Angeles reshapes around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for the 2026-27 season.
Before the next round of changes arrives, Redick recently took his story on the road and spoke to students in Roanoke County, where he reflected on the basketball journey that carried him to this point and delivered a motivational message along the way. For Lakers fans, it was another reminder that the coach guiding the franchise through constant expectations is still finding ways to frame his rise as more than just wins and losses. [Read more 🡒]