Luka Doncic is already sizing up the Los Angeles Lakers’ new pieces, and he likes what he sees heading into the 2026-27 opener against the Golden State Warriors on October 21 at Crypto.com Arena in LA.
At practice, Doncic was asked about the group the Lakers brought in this summer - Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams, Walker Kessler, and Sandro Mamukelashvili - and he broke down what each one can add around him.
Sexton, who started practice tonight while working his way back after missing some preseason games with an injury, drew an immediate endorsement from Doncic for the pace and juice he brings.
“He’s another guy he can bring the ball up. His energy is unmatched. So we’re really excited to have him back,” Doncic said.
Doncic also pointed to Williams as a piece who can help on both sides of the floor, especially with the way he reads what’s happening in front of him.
“Yeah, he’s a very good player on both sides of the floor. He knows how to read defense. So, as you saw, you know, he can knock down three, he can cut, he cuts very well, and he can just read what the defense is doing,” Luka Doncic further added.
The big-name fit Doncic had in mind this summer was Walker Kessler, the rim-running center the Lakers traded for to give him a lob threat in pick-and-roll action. Doncic said the early chemistry work is coming through repetition and communication.
“For me, I think you get the best out of it with reps. The more reps you get, the better feel you develop for the pick-and-roll.
But it’s always a conversation, too. I think the reps are the most important,” Luka Doncic said.
He also noted that the two preseason games they’ve shared have already shown where the work still needs to be done.
“Obviously, it was a little different because they blitzed me the whole game, so I think it’s something new to him,” Doncic added on playing two preseason games with Kessler. “But we’re working on that, and I think he’s improving a lot in that area. Obviously, we haven’t played against drop coverage yet.”
Mamukelashvili has been the most versatile newcomer through preseason, and Doncic said the big man’s passing and rebounding have stood out enough that the staff keeps pushing him to push the pace himself.
“Yeah, he’s been very good… I think his playmaking is very good,” Doncic said about Mamukelashvili’s impact on the roster. “We keep encouraging him to bring the ball up after he gets the rebound.
That way, we can just go faster. We keep encouraging him to do that.”
Between Sexton’s energy, Williams’ defensive versatility, Kessler’s rim-running, and Mamukelashvili’s playmaking, the Lakers have given Doncic a different kind of supporting cast this summer. Whether that turns into a real contender in 2026-27 will depend on how fast the group builds chemistry and handles the pressure that comes with the regular season and, eventually, the playoffs. It may be early to make a title call, but in this league, the door is always open.
In Other News...
Walker Kessler Faces A Huge Lakers Test Right Away
Walker Kessler is about to get thrown right into the kind of spotlight that can define a Lakers season before it really gets going. In the opener against the Golden State Warriors, the big man is set for his official debut in purple and gold, and it comes after a frustrating shoulder injury limited him to just five games last season. For a team expecting him to be part of the frontcourt picture, the first night is already shaping up as a meaningful early gauge of where he stands.
JJ Redick has already framed Kesslers arrival as a developmental process, with the adjustment not just about health but about handling a bigger role and learning to mesh with new teammates. Kessler has said the pressure of joining the Lakers makes staying positive especially important, and that mindset may matter as much as anything when the season starts and the rhythm of a new team has to come together quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Austin Reaves Had The Perfect Reaction To LeBron In Sixers Gear
LeBron James in a different uniform is still the kind of sight that stops a room, and Austin Reaves had the sort of reaction plenty of Lakers fans probably felt when they saw it. After James left Los Angeles in free agency to join a 76ers group built around Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown, the former Lakers teammate took in the preseason look and made it clear the image still carries some shock value.
For Reaves, the moment lands with a little extra weight because the Lakers are moving on without James and asking him to handle a bigger offensive load this season. James, meanwhile, is chasing another championship chance in Philadelphia, which only makes the transition more striking from Los Angeles side. Even in a preseason setting, seeing a familiar face in a new jersey is the sort of thing that lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Suddenly Face A Porzingis Problem They May Not Solve Soon
Kristaps Porzingis future with the Warriors has quickly become one of those situations that hangs over a roster even before a move is made. After signing a two-year contract extension, he has recently been away because of an autoimmune disorder called POTS, leaving Golden State to navigate a major uncertainty around a player who was supposed to factor into its plans.
The Warriors have started looking into trade possibilities, but there does not appear to be an immediate solution on the horizon. For now, the more realistic outcome is that Porzingis stays put while the team waits to see how his basketball future develops, a reminder that some roster questions are bigger than the transaction window. [Read more 🡒]