Luka Dončić takes out full-page ad in LA Times ahead of Lakers season-opener Wednesday night

The Los Angeles Lakers open the 2026-2027 season at home on Wednesday night against the Golden State Warriors.

Ahead of the game, star guard Luka Dončić took out a full-page ad in the LA Times and wrote a message to the Lakers faithful.

“Tonight we start our run for a championship.

Every player dreams of holding that trophy. To do it for all you amazing fans would mean everything to us. Each of us understands what it means to put on this purple and gold jersey and follow the players who wore it before us. It means so much because of the passion and dedication that generations of you all have shown for this team.

I see it everywhere. The hats, the flags on cars, the murals. This city has people from all over the world, speaking every language, and the Lakers are the thing that brings everyone together.

We have a special team. We know what you expect, and we are going to do everything in our power to deliver it. From the moment I arrived in L.A., you welcomed me with open arms. That is something I will never forget.

So here is my promise to you: we are going to give you everything we have, every single night. No excuses. No nights off.

But we cannot do this alone. You are the best fans in the world, and we are going to need you. Every game, bring it with us.

Let’s go. “

Dončić is heading into his second full season with Los Angeles. He joined the Lakers ahead of the 2025 trade deadline in the infamous deal that sent him from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers overnight.

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Last year, Dončić played 64 games for the Lakers, the most in a season since 2023-2024. He averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. It was the second-highest points-per-game mark of his entire career.

This marks a new era for Los Angeles, with Dončić as the team’s focal point. It will be the first season since 2018 that the Lakers won’t have LeBron James on the roster, as the future Hall of Famer signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency this offseason.

Dončić’s statement shows he knows his role now and what fans still expect from the franchise, even without James in town. The guard’s first chance to back…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/luka-doncic-takes-out-full-page-ad-in-la-times-ahead-of-lakers-season-opener-wednesday-night-192639420.html

Author : Teddy Ricketson

Publish date : 2026-10-21 19:26:00

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