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Luka Doncic had an MVP-caliber campaign in his first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and it was far from an earth-shattering development.
Doncic was eager to make the Dallas Mavericks look foolish for ending his stint with the franchise after 6.5 successful seasons (the trade occurred in February of 2025), and the six-time All-Star achieved his goal with ease.
Doncic used his unteachable feel for the game, elite pace, and game-changing shot-making to average 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game this season, shooting 47.6% from the field and 36.6% from beyond the arc for the 53-win Lakers.
Unfortunately, Doncic’s season ended on the bench rather than the hardwood, as a hamstring strain made him unavailable for the Los Angeles first-round playoff series vs. the Houston Rockets (which it won) and its Western Conference Finals match-up vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder (which it lost).
A month after the Lakers’ 115-110 season-ending loss to the Thunder, Doncic made a two-word roster request to the franchise that should be viewed as reasonable. Specifically, Doncic wants the Lakers to surround him with an ‘A-List center’ before the start of the 2026-27 season.
Doncic’s straightforward plea to the Lakers all but confirms that Deandre Ayton is nowhere near the best big man he’s played with in his career. The 27-year-old is known for operating the pick-and-roll to perfection by keeping defenders on his backside while locating his streaking frontcourt teammate at the rim.
With Ayton frequently playing a disinterested basketball, though, his partnership with Doncic wasn’t as effective as the Lakers expected.
Needless to say, Los Angeles must find an upgrade as soon as possible, and with the franchise being linked to Utah Jazz rising star Walker Kessler following his unsuccessful contract negotiations with the franchise, he’s certainly a player to keep a close eye on.
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