Luka Doncic’s recent trade to the Los Angeles Lakers has generated a buzz of excitement among fans and analysts alike.

Luka Doncic (Photo by Troy Wayrynen/Imagn Images)
The talented Slovenian basketball player, known for his exceptional skills and playmaking abilities, has played three games for the Lakers so far. However, the team faced challenges during this stretch, losing two of those contests.

With fans eagerly anticipating Doncic’s complete return to form, there is a growing sense of optimism about his potential to improve the Lakers’ performance as the season unfolds. Lakers fans are hopeful for a long-term partnership between Doncic and the team. However, NBA analyst Brian Windhorst shared an interesting perspective on the dynamic between Doncic and the Lakers.

“The pressure is on the organization between now and August 2nd to get Luka to sign that extension. That’s where the pressure is because Luka doesn’t have his incentive to sign. He never said, ‘I wanna be a Laker.’ There are dozens of players over the years who have made it crystal clear they wanna be Lakers. Luka never said that. This hit him outta the blue. It cost him $100 million,” Windhorst said in the recent episode of First Take.

Doncic’s trade is considered one of the most notable and surprising transactions in NBA history. Although Doncic can sign a contract extension next year, it remains plausible that the Slovenian sensation may opt for a shorter agreement with the franchise.

LeBron James Reveals Luka Doncic As Priority For The Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers recently played the Portland Trail Blazers in an intense game at the Moda Center. With Luka Doncic absent, superstar LeBron James and Austin Reaves delivered outstanding performances on the court. James scored 40 points, along with four assists and eight rebounds, while Reaves contributed 32 points, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks. Ultimately, the Lakers secured a 110-102 victory against the Blazers. In the post-game interview, James mentioned that Doncic is currently the team’s top priority.

“We also have to figure out and learn from him as well. He’s such a great and unbelievable talent. We need to be able to play with him just as much as he needs to play with us. Every day, every game, every practice, every shootaround, every film session, we got to continue getting better and better at integrating our new parts. But he’s definitely priority number one,” James said.

The Lakers currently sit in 5th place in the Western Conference standings with a 33-21 record in the ongoing 2024-25 NBA season. They will play their next game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.