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The Los Angeles Lakers have officially entered their Luka Dončić era after acquiring him last February in one of the most shocking trades in NBA history. Throughout the summer, there was uncertainty about how the Lakers planned to build around him, but one thing was clear — Dončić wants to win now.
“Dončić being just 26 gives the Lakers a far longer timeline to build a championship-contending team, but that doesn't mean they can slow down and take their time. Dončić told Lakers president Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick in May that he's not interested in taking the slow approach in building a contender,” CBS Sports’ Jasmyn Wimbish wrote.
Dončić has come out swinging to start the season, scoring over 40 points in each of his first two games. He even made history on opening night — though not in the way he would’ve liked.
“Luka Dončić is the first player in NBA history to open a season with a 40-point double-double but lose by double digits,” Opta Stats posted.
Despite Dončić’s dominance, many around the league remain skeptical of the Lakers’ roster construction. In fact, one anonymous NBA assistant coach believes Dončić will need to play at an MVP level every night just to keep the team competitive.
“Luka is going to have to do what he did every night just to give them a chance," an assistant coach told ESPN.
The Lakers looked strong in their blowout win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Dončić continues to do his part, but the team has yet to earn widespread respect. If Los Angeles can consistently perform around its superstar, success should follow.
The Lakers finished as a top-three team in the Western Conference last season, so it shouldn’t be forgotten how good they were just a year ago. For now, though, they’re still fighting to prove themselves in the Dončić era.
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