Luka Doncic’s father isn’t ready to hand the Lakers a gold star just yet.
After Los Angeles overhauled the roster this summer, Sasa Doncic said he’s interested to see how Rob Pelinka’s new-look group actually fits around his son. The Lakers have been busy as they move fully into the Luka Doncic era following LeBron James’ departure to the Philadelphia 76ers, bringing in Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Kevon Looney, Jaden Hardy, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams.
But the question hanging over all of it is simple: did the Lakers really get better enough to chase a title?
Speaking to Mozzart Sport after the team’s summer minicamp in Slovenia, Sasa Doncic didn’t exactly stamp the offseason as a win or a loss. He said:
“They were there, they had a crazy and unforgettable time, at least that’s what they say. I don’t know, time will tell how it will be.
I can’t wait to see what happens. My focus is honestly on Ilirija, but of course I support the Lakers because of Luka and whether Rob Pelinka has built a good team, we’ll see.”
That last part says plenty. For all the activity, there’s still real uncertainty about what this roster looks like when the games start counting.
On paper, the Lakers do have a different feel. They’re younger.
They’re more athletic. Kessler brings the kind of rim protection and lob-catching presence that should pair well with Doncic.
Grimes and Thybulle add defense on the perimeter. Sexton and Hardy give the team more shot creation.
Mamukelashvili adds shooting and frontcourt flexibility.
Still, there’s no clean way to replace LeBron James.
Even deep into his career, he remained one of the league’s most productive players and one of its best playmakers. That kind of production doesn’t just disappear without leaving a massive hole, and now more of the load falls on Doncic and Austin Reaves, who are clearly the center of this team’s future.
The Lakers have also made their commitment to Reaves obvious, treating him and Doncic as the foundation for what comes next.
Luka has already started working to build chemistry with the new group. The trip to Slovenia was meant to give the players time away from the normal NBA grind, with a chance to train, hang out and start forming connections before the season.
Sasa Doncic said the experience sounded positive, but summer chemistry only goes so far. The real test comes once the regular season begins.
There were signs last season that the Lakers could be dangerous, especially during Doncic’s first full season in L.A. and that strong stretch in March. Even so, the year ended with the same lingering doubts about how high this roster can really climb.
That leaves Pelinka under pressure again.
The Lakers may have assembled a deeper, more balanced group around Doncic, but whether that turns into legitimate title contention is still an open question. And for now, Sasa Doncic is keeping his answer exactly where it is: we’ll see.
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