The Los Angeles Lakers acquired they next star at the trade deadline in Luka Doncic and he is expected to lead L.A. into life post-LeBron James.
As a top-five player, Doncic is no stranger to leading a team, as he did that at a high level with the Dallas Mavericks. But, after getting a taste of the NBA Finals in 2024, Doncic wants to get back there and finish the job.
While mid-season trades can be tough, Doncic had some familiar faces with him in Los Angeles, one being Dorian Finney-Smith. They were teammates and close friends in Dallas and were happy to reunite on the Lakers.
When discussing that reunion, Finney-Smith talked about the ways Doncic has grown as a player since they were first together in Dallas.
“You just hear him talking a lot more the second time around,” Finney-Smith said in his exit interview. “He’s definitely a better communicator than he was when we were in Dallas. I know he’s mad right now that the season didn’t go how we wanted, but we’re healthy and all we can do is focus on next year, to be honest. But he’s a top-five player in the league. He’s for sure a bigger star than he was when he was younger.”
Coming over mid-season and on a team that already had a leader in LeBron James, Doncic mostly took a back seat in that department in his first year in purple and gold.
However, this summer serves as a chance to fully acclimate himself and also build a roster better suited around him. When the team comes together, Doncic can hit the ground running as a communicator and be more vocal.
Having vocal leaders is an under-appreciated asset when it comes to a championship squad and as the future of the Lakers, Doncic needs to embrace that. Also, having James presumably around for another season can aid him in learning what it truly takes to lead a title team year in and year out.
Bulls would have offered Mavericks ‘anyone and everyone’ for Luka Doncic
By the Lakers shockingly acquiring Luka Doncic on Feb. 1, there was a lot of clamoring as to why the market was not opened up to other teams. The Lakers’ offer was viewed as lackluster as it did not meet Doncic’s value and many believed the Dallas Mavericks could have gotten way more.
One team that felt that frustration is the Chicago Bulls, who have first-round picks through 2031 to throw at Dallas. Chicago reportedly would have offered ‘anyone and everyone’ for Doncic hoping to sway the Mavericks.
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