Guard Luka Doncic and forward LeBron James will lead the charge for the Los Angeles Lakers as they look to win their 18th title in franchise history in 2026 and tie the Boston Celtics for the most championships won by any NBA team.
Ahead of their first full season playing alongside one another, James had some major praise for Doncic, saying he loves “the way he plays the game.”
“I just love the way he approaches the game,” James told the Wall Street Journal. “I love the way he plays the game. More importantly, man, he’s just a great f—— guy.”
James called the Slovenian a “big-time savant” of basketball to boot.
“Big-time savant of the game,” James said. “I always use IQ as a measuring point in basketball—guys who can think the game. There are so many guys in our league who can play the game, but to be able to think the game as well puts you at another level.”
James and Doncic’s opening season together didn’t pan out as planned, as the Lakers didn’t stick around in the 2025 NBA Playoffs for very long. Los Angeles was eliminated in five games in the first round of the playoffs despite being the No. 3 seed in the West, as it lost to a Minnesota Timberwolves team that went on to reach the Western Conference Finals.
However, there are multiple reasons to be optimistic that the Lakers will experience more success in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, assuming they qualify.
For one, Doncic is heading into the coming season with a newfound level of comfort playing for the Lakers franchise. In his maiden season in Los Angeles, it took him some time just to get acclimated to playing for another team after he starred with the Dallas Mavericks for such a long time.
Doncic is also heading into the 2025-26 campaign with an improved physique. He has put in a lot of work on his body over the last few months, and the progress he’s made is visually evident. The 26-year-old might just be in the best shape he’s ever been in during his lengthy NBA career.
In addition to Doncic getting his feet wet in Los Angeles and transforming his body, the Lakers have made moves to strengthen their supporting cast this offseason. They could end up being one of the last squads standing in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Lakers fans will see the new-look Doncic make his season debut for the team when it takes on the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21 to kick off the 2025-26 regular season.
