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It has been a wild offseason for the Lakers, who revamped their roster around Luka Dončić and are preparing to try to compete for their first championship since 2020.
There’s a lot of uncertainty after they lost their superstar of the last eight years in LeBron James and underwent their second ownership change in the last 14 months, but there’s also a lot to be excited about.
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Here are the five things Lakers fans have to look forward to heading into next season.
Luka Dončić at an outdoor basketball court during the Los Angeles Lakers’ visit in Ljubljana, Slovenia in August 2026. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett
After James chose to go to the 76ers in free agency, the Lakers are unequivocally Dončić’s team. For the first time in his career, he took all of his teammates to his home in Slovenia this summer to host a minicamp to build chemistry.
Dončić is clearly taking the responsibility of being the Lakers’ superstar very seriously. He knows he’s playing for a 17-time championship organization and all eyes are going to be on him to lead the team back atop the league.
Last season, Dončić led the league in scoring (33.5 points), finished third in assists (8.3) and was fourth in MVP voting before he suffered a hamstring strain that sidelined him for the playoffs.
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This season, here’s to betting he’s going to be on a personal mission to carry the roster he helped select deep into the postseason.
Austin Reaves signed the richest contract in NBA history this offseason for a player who went undrafted. Getty Images
2. Austin Reaves is due for a breakout season
Reaves signed the richest contract in NBA history this offseason for a player who went undrafted. Dončić wanted him as his sidekick. He has officially gone from being one of the league’s wonderful surprises to becoming one of the torchbearers for the NBA’s second-winningest franchise.
Reaves had so many moments last season where he proved he’s a star, including a 51-point performance followed by a 41-point performance in October and a jaw-dropping floater at the buzzer during a game against Denver in…
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Publish date : 2026-09-13 13:00:00
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