Luka Doncic reveals desire to retire with Lakers…
Luka Dončić has always earned followers’ respect.
So a lot so that before Kobe Bryant attended a Lakers sport as a fan in 2019 alongside his daughter, Gianna, he realized some Slovenian so he may trash-talk the then-Mavericks’ famous person from his courtside seat.
Seven years later, Dončić is now the face of the 17-time champion Lakers, the franchise with which Bryant spent his whole 20-season profession.
“We can say that it was meant to be,” Dončić told the California Post in an exclusive interview.
Dončić has persistently mesmerized anybody who has watched him play, even a five-time champion with the Lakers who confirmed his admiration with tried subterfuge.
None of this is misplaced on Dončić. In fact, if there’s one factor that’s almost as important to him as profitable his first NBA championship, it’s inspiring anybody who watches him play, one thing that has long come naturally to him.
Dončić had a cult following when he turned the youngest participant in EuroLeague historical past to win the MVP Award at age 19 en route to main Real Madrid to a championship.
While taking part in for the Mavericks, he was so beloved that his followers have been likened to “Swifties,” the nickname for Taylor Swift’s passionate fanbase. When Dončić was stunningly traded to the Lakers in February 2025, Mavericks followers have been so devastated that they protested outdoors American Airlines Center, canceled season tickets, chanted for then-Mavericks normal supervisor Nico Harrison to be fired (he was 9 months later), and even famously introduced a casket to the sector to mourn their famous person’s departure.
Now Dončić is in Los Angeles, a metropolis with 12 skilled sports activities groups and Hollywood.
He’s a different sort of famous person than the Lakers have ever had: He’s European, he’s a team-first participant and he’s shy. So, he’s the other of other fan favorites, such as Magic Johnson or Bryant.
The big query?
Can Dončić win over LA?
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) warms up before a sport against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via GWN Connect
It’s one thing LeBron James struggled with despite taking part in eight seasons for the Lakers and main the franchise to its first championship in 10 years in 2020 before he left for the 76ers in free company in July.
Austin Reaves believes issues will play out in another way for Dončić.
“I think with the Bron situation it was a little different just because Bron and Kobe were battling for the best player in the NBA for multiple years, so Lakers fans at the time probably hated LeBron,” Reaves told the California Post. “Not that they didn’t accept him when he was here, but they still probably had the “Kobe is better” sort of mentality. But they don’t have that with Luka. He was variety of after Kobe. They don’t have a purpose not to embrace him like a Kobe or another person who was a Laker legend.”
Dončić is doing his half to endear himself to Laker followers.
Last season, he led the league in scoring (33.5 factors), was third in assists (8.3) and completed fourth in MVP voting.
And off the court, he has poured himself into contributing to the LA group. That contains committing $500,000 to fire recovery efforts through the Luka Dončić Foundation in February 2025, partnering with Jordan Brand to pay for Lakers followers’ parking close to Crypto.com Arena before his first home sport against the Mavericks, paying for all the price of restoring a vandalized mural of Kobe and Gianna in downtown in April 2025 and donating $5 million to 77 younger athletes around the world after signing a three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers in August 2025.
Ahead of the Lakers’ season opener against the Warriors on Wednesday, Dončić is funding free Metro Bike Share rides for half-hour. He also took out a full-page advert in the LA Times promising followers that the Lakers will give all the things they’ve this yr.
“I think it’s just very important to me to do a lot of connection with the fans,” Dončić told the California Post. “Before every game at home, I sign things and I take pictures. When we go on the road, I take pictures. I think for me, it’s giving back to the fans the way they supported me. The way they care for me. It’s very important to give back to them.”
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers indicators memorabilia for a fan against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
In many methods, the Lakers struck gold with Dončić.
Not only have they got somebody who’s an impossible-to-solve puzzle for defenders with his fixed altering of tempo, but they’ve a participant who’s deeply loyal.
Dončić wished to spend his whole profession in Dallas, an more and more uncommon sentiment for superstars who are fast to leap franchises while chasing championships. When Dončić was dealt to the Lakers, he threw his cellphone across the room. He felt harm. Shocked. Betrayed.
But over the last season and a half, a dramatic shift has occurred.
“After that, at training camp last year, I felt I was where I belonged,” Dončić told the California Post. “I feel very good in LA. I’m very excited. Very happy. Obviously it’s a beautiful place to live. But just being with the Lakers organization, being a part of it, it’s such an honor. It’s amazing to be here.”
Dončić has embraced the whiplash-inducing change he never envisioned.
When requested if he desires to retire as a Laker, he didn’t hesitate.
“Hopefully, yeah,” Dončić told the California Post. “But as you know in this NBA business, you never know what’s going to happen. But I feel like I’ve found something here that’s very comfortable for me. And hopefully [that happens].”
His buy-in was apparent last spring when he had a gorgeous stretch in March, averaging 37.5 factors, 8 rebounds and 7.4 assists while carrying the Lakers to a 15-2 file. And it was simple over the summer season when he paid for his teammates to fly to Slovenia where he hosted a four-day mini camp so they might construct chemistry and get to know the real him.
Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during a sport against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“He didn’t choose this,” Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean told the California Post of Dončić getting traded to Los Angeles. “But he’s embracing it. And I think when he looks back on his career, this opportunity is going to be one of the best things that ever happened to him, becoming a Laker.”
Dončić’s reputation boomed in a single day when he was dealt to the Lakers. It turned one of the largest national tales at the time — and not just in sports activities.
Several corporations took benefit of the second, including Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, which wrote on Instagram, “It’s not like we traded Luka,” in response to the backlash it was receiving for ending its free checked bag coverage.
Dončić was entrance and heart. He was a buzzword. And he was also the clear No. 1 precedence in a locker room he was sharing with James, who’s arguably the best participant of all-time.
It was a lot.
Especially for somebody like Dončić, who prefers hardwood flooring over crimson carpets and daylight over spotlights. When requested what he desires followers to most know about him, he flashed a shy smile.
“I’m a very simple guy, probably just stay home mostly,” Dončić told the California Post. “I’m just a chill guy, a simple guy.”
He’s not outspoken. He’s not the kind of participant who advocates for himself. He’s not statuesque. He’s not LA. But mockingly, that’s why LA is falling in love with him.
“He’s not the fastest or can’t jump the highest, so people can see themselves in him,” said Michael Morales, a 42-year-old longtime Lakers fan. “And that makes it exciting to watch him score 50 points on the huge guys out there.”
Dončić lets his play do the speaking.
Last March, he turned the first participant to average 40 factors over six highway video games since Michael Jordan in 1986. Yet he fell in NBA.com’s MVP rankings at the time from No. 2 to No. 4. Still, he declined to advocate for himself, saying, “I never did that, so I’m not going to.”
That doesn’t imply he doesn’t deeply need to win an MVP award, particularly as the face of one of the most globally celebrated franchises in sports activities.
“It would definitely mean a lot,” Dončić said. “Obviously a championship, that’s what you play for every sport. That’s what you practice for on a regular basis. But clearly it could be good to win the MVP also. Not all people can say they’ve an MVP, so clearly that can be good.
“But that comes with the team first. If you don’t play good, you’re never going to win championships or MVP. So, we’ve got to play good. I’m very excited to go to war with these people. I think we had a great training camp and we’re ready to go.”
Doncic’s followers have come to respect his understated nature as half of his appeal. On the court, he’s a trash-talking, offensive wizard. Off it, he’s a quiet man who loves his mates, household and golf.
So, how is any person like that supposed to win over Lakers followers accustomed to charismatic superstars who love cameras as a lot as Hollywood actors?
It’s a laborious query to reply.
But then again, Doncic obtained the stamp of approval from Bryant, who was identified to be very stingy with his respect.
It’s one thing Doncic often thinks about as he dons a purple and gold jersey.
“I was playing and he talked to me, it was actually insane,” Dončić told the California Post. “I was a little bit starstruck to get that respect from the guy that Kobe was which was unbelievable to me.”
It’s one thing that left a deep impression on Doncic.
It’s one thing that appears nearly prophetic now.
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