Luka Doncic made an immediate impact in Tuesday’s EuroBasket 2025 Group D match-up against Iceland, showcasing his improved defensive awareness and athleticism in great news for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Moments into the game, the star guard executed a spectacular block on Elvar Fridriksson, collapsing to prevent a floater from reaching the basket to save some points for Slovenia.
The play highlighted Doncic‘s transformed, slimmed-down physique, which has made him noticeably quicker and more agile on both ends of the court as he prepares for a potential MVP season.
However, despite his heads-up defense, Luka accumulated three personal fouls within the opening ten minutes as EuroBasket rules allow a player to foul out after five fouls.
He eventually managed to remain on the court for nearly 14 minutes in the first half and in over 13 minutes and 50 seconds of action, Doncic contributed nine points, four rebounds, two assists, along with a block and a steal.
The European tournament also serves as a preview of what fans can expect in the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season after his previously campaign was plagued by injuries that sidelined him for 32 games.
Now he is not only healthier but appears sharper too as he acclimatises to the Los Angeles Lakers and the coaching style of JJ Redick and sets his sights on a maiden NBA championship ring.
LeBron James won’t leave LA Lakers this offseason
Adding stability to the Lakers’ roster, LeBron James will remain with the team this offseason and his $52.6 million salary makes a trade impractical, as any potential suitor would need to drastically restructure its roster to match the contract.
Even a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a “storybook ending” would require major sacrifices from the roster, potentially impacting players like Donovan Mitchell, something teams might not be ready to commit to.
Jared Greenberg, analyst, emphasized that Doncic, as a once-in-a-generation talent, remains the cornerstone for the Lakers‘ future.
“The only way for him to be traded at the salary number that he’s making,” Greenberg said. “Is to rip apart a team he would go to.
“Which then leaves him in a precarious situation once again, because it isn’t any better than playing with Luka Doncic, a top-five player in the league.”
At 40, LeBron has completed his 22nd All-Star appearance, no longer the franchise’s undisputed face but still a dominant force on the floor. With Doncic‘s revitalized athleticism and LeBron’s continued presence, the Lakers enter the new season with championship aspirations firmly intact.
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