Luka Doncic landed in Los Angeles earlier this year in a blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas. The move shook the NBA, and the Lakers made it clear this was the start of a new era with “The Don” as the face of the franchise. Still, one thing continues to worry some fans of the storied team. Will Doncic commit to the Lakers for the long haul?
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Luka has faced a lot of criticism in recent years, from questions about his defense to concerns about his conditioning and habits. The narrative was that he wasn’t serious enough to be the guy. But everything has changed since the Lakers’ embarrassing playoff exit this year. That loss seems to have flipped a switch in Luka. He’s responded in every way possible.
The physical transformation is real. He looks leaner in recent pictures. He’s clearly taken the criticism personally and turned it into fuel. What’s most telling, though, is what he’s doing off the court. He’s been actively recruiting players to the Lakers, showing a level of leadership and ownership that fans hadn’t seen before. If that’s not evidence that he wants to win as a Laker, what is?
That’s what ESPN’s Dave McMenamin believes. Luka is trying to build something special in LA, and with August 2 approaching, the date he becomes eligible for an extension, McMenamin is telling fans not to worry.
“As we look forward, we look at that August 2nd date when the Lakers can offer an extension to Luka Doncic worth four years $222 million, up to that figure. And I would say, if you are a Lakers fan, you shouldn’t have any worry about Luka coming to some sort of an extension or agreement with the Lakers,” McMenamin said.
The analyst is confident that Luka will sign at least a three-year max extension worth $160 million. And that confidence isn’t just coming from him. Ramona Shelburne has echoed the same sentiment. She pointed out that the Lakers are fully invested in Luka and are treating him like their next franchise cornerstone. And it shows.
The roster is now built around him. LeBron James, once the center of everything, has quietly transitioned into a supporting role. Shelburne said, “They’ve been talking in forever terms. They’ve all been talking like we are a partnership now. They took him out to dinner. Rob Pelinka handed him a binder. The Lakers have plans to go visit him in Slovenia this summer. They’re gonna go to EuroBasket. This is not a player that’s looking like he’s gonna leave as a free agent next year.”
The message is clear. This is Luka’s team now. And everything from his commitment to his conditioning to his recruitment indicates he’s ready to embrace that role for years to come.
