Luka Doncic isn’t easing into his second full season with the Lakers. He’s already setting the tone.
On the eve of the 2026-27 season opener against the Golden State Warriors, Doncic put his message in full view with a full-page ad in the LA Times, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic. It was a clear signal from the 27-year-old star that he expects this version of the Lakers to play like a team ready to chase a title right away.
That expectation matters in Los Angeles. The franchise’s standard is hanging in plain sight every night at Crypto.com Arena, where 17 championship banners line the rafters - second-most in the NBA behind the Boston Celtics.
Doncic isn’t just aiming to fit into that history. He wants to add to it, and the source material says he hopes to bring not just one but multiple titles to the organization.
The confidence comes at a time when the Lakers have been reshaped around him and Austin Reaves. Doncic, who is a six-time All-NBA guard and the reigning scoring champion, believes this roster has what it takes to win now, even with plenty of moving parts still to sort out.
One of the biggest changes came with Walker Kessler, whom Doncic actively pushed the front office to acquire. He reportedly made it known he wanted an “A-list center” and identified the 25-year-old as his preferred target heading into this season. The Lakers and Doncic are betting Kessler is the right fit, though the real answer will come over the course of the year - and with the size of the commitment the team made to bring him in, that evaluation will matter.
Beyond that, the roster profile has shifted. This group is younger and more athletic than the Lakers of recent years, but there are still open questions around how well it all comes together. Whether those issues get solved from within or force the team into bigger moves before the February trade deadline remains to be seen.
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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 🡒]
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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
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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 🡒]