The Los Angeles Lakers have been defined by LeBron James‘ greatness for the past decade. But the NBA icon’s time at the top had to end somewhere, and in Los Angeles, that time has already come and gone. According to Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, Luka Doncic is the unmistakable face of the franchise after securing the generational talent a year ago.
In a recent interview with CNBC Sport’s Alex Sherman, Buss outlined the franchise’s long-term vision, one centered squarely around the Slovenian superstar.
After years defined by marquee names and championship expectations, the Lakers are once again positioning themselves around a singular generational talent.
“The partnership will give us the stability to continue to move forward as we build towards a team around Luka Doncic, who is the No. 1 vote-getter in the All-Star game,” Buss said.
“We couldn’t be more proud that he is a Laker. He is a young all-star that the fans love to see.”
The numbers support her enthusiasm. Doncic not only led NBA All-Star voting this season, but also topped the league in jersey sales, social media engagement and YouTube views.
Doncic the new generational star in L.A
Those metrics signal more than popularity. It indicates that for a new generation, and for a franchise synonymous with phenomenal players, Doncic has that star power.
“Luka is one of those players you need to see in person,” said Buss. “The stuff that he does, in terms of the passing and how he sees the game, he’s almost an illusionist.
“I think that’s where he got the name ‘Luka Magic’ and certainly we know that comes from Magic Johnson.”
History suggests that wearing purple and gold only highlights that superstardom. When you are the face of the Lakers, you often become the face of the league.
Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and James each carried that mantle in their respective eras. Now, Doncic assumes that responsibility.
“I think Laker fans have a lot to look forward to,” Buss said of the Doncic era. “We’re about winning and wanting to add more trophies.”
Banner No. 18 may not arrive this season, but structurally, the Lakers are positioned to accelerate their timeline.
Even accounting for the $20.9 million free agent cap hold for Austin Reaves, the franchise is projected to have more than $50 million in cap space this offseason.
Giannis and several targets highlight ambition
Under the leadership of Rob Pelinka, the front office is reportedly targeting defensive-minded wings and versatile bigs via both free agency and trades.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, potential names include Peyton Watson, Andrew Wiggins, Dean Wade, Tari Eason, Tobias Harris and Quentin Grimes.
Beyond complementary pieces, the Lakers are also monitoring the situation surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Armed with three tradeable first-round picks and significant cap flexibility, the franchise believes it could be a serious contender if the Milwaukee Bucks star requests a trade.
If Antetokounmpo remains with the Milwaukee Bucks through 2026-27, he could test free agency in 2027, a year when the Lakers project to maintain cap flexibility.
For now, however, the franchise’s trajectory is clear. With Doncic as its centerpiece, the Los Angeles is betting that “The Illusionist” can turn vision into banners.
Read the full article here
