The Los Angeles Lakers revamped their roster this offseason, officially making Luka Dončić the focal point.
As Dončić enters his third season in Los Angeles, he has already seen the legendary franchise be sold twice, but the All-Star guard has remained supportive of the ownership changes as the front office has continued to support him.
Dončić has proven he has what it takes to be a franchise star, leading a team to the NBA Finals when he took the Dallas Mavericks to the title series to end the 2023-24 season. The Boston Celtics beat the Mavericks 4-1.
It may take some time before there’s a better idea of what this Lakers team can look like and what that ceiling might be, but there have been some early glimpses during the preseason.
How does Luka Dončić look with new Lakers roster?
Lakers general
manager Rob Pelinka and the front office made a trade for Walker Kessler and re-signed Austin Reaves to a $185-million contract to help create a foundation alongside Dončić this offseason.
The Lakers' new big three came together for the first time against the Denver Nuggets in the preseason finale on Oct. 16, with the trio playing together in the first half.
That one half indicated it will still take some time for the trio to jell, finishing the outing at a minus-four in their 13 minutes together.
While Kessler appeared a bit out of rhythm against Nikola Jokić, he called it "a lot of fun" to play together as a trio for the first time.
Outside of the big three, Dončić showed he also has a connection building with Lakers newcomer Ziaire Williams, who was also in the starting lineup. The veteran guard found Williams for multiple lobs during the first half.
Can Luka Dončić stay healthy?
The biggest question for Dončić is whether he can stay healthy.
Dončić has continued to put in the work as well during the offseason, taking his training seriously for a second straight season.
He’s come into the season in shape and looking lean to improve his on-court mobility and overall condition.
The guard had faced criticism throughout the early years of his career because of his weight and lower-body injuries.
Dončić took a step forward, playing in 64 games last season, the most he has played since the 2023-24 season when he played 70 games.
He earned his second scoring title, averaging 33.5 points per game last season. He also averaged 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds for Los Angeles.
Dončić will have to play like an MVP candidate again this season to help push the Lakers beyond the Western Conference semifinals.
The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Lakers 4-0 in the conference semls last season without Dončić. He missed the Lakers' playoff run due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain.
Luka Dončić takes on leadership role
Dončić hosted his teammates for a minicamp in an attempt to build team chemistry after the team overhauled the roster in August.
The All-NBA player’s decision to have the minicamp in the home country allowed him to remain close to his two daughters.
Dončić and his longtime girlfriend ended their engagement in March, leading to an ongoing custody battle over the daughters.
When do Lakers play in the season opener?
Dončić and the Lakers will host coach Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in the season opener.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is Lakers' ceiling with Luka Doncic as Los Angeles' focal point?
