By Janina Nuno Rios
(Reuters) -With LeBron James sidelined, Luka Doncic opens the new NBA season as unquestioned leader of the Los Angeles Lakers, the Slovenian superstar eyeing a long-awaited MVP and hoping to turn his dominance into silverware for the storied franchise.
The 26-year-old guard enters his first full season in purple and gold after signing a three-year, $165 million extension over the summer.
He is in top form, having led Slovenia to the EuroBasket quarter-finals, where he averaged a tournament-best
34.7 points per game.
Acquired in February in a blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic made an immediate impact last season, averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals over 28 regular-season games.
His arrival helped Los Angeles to 50 wins and a third seed in the Western Conference, though a first-round playoff exit sparked renewed debate about both his and the team's conditioning.
Long criticized for inconsistent conditioning since his Dallas days, Doncic set out to change that narrative.
Over the summer, he revealed that he had adopted a stricter off season routine of gym work, on-court drills and improved nutrition: a regimen that led to a striking physical transformation and drew widespread attention.
"Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better," Doncic said in the July issue of Men's Health, where he appeared noticeably leaner on the cover.
Meanwhile, Lakers head coach JJ Redick has made physical and mental sharpness the foundation of his "championship-shape" mantra.
"It's not just physical shape, it's mental shape too," Doncic said earlier this month of Redick's training camp focus.
"Both are very important. We're doing it in practice. Everybody's in great shape. Everybody's running a lot, so it's been great so far."
CHEMISTRY TEST
Doncic's pre-season workload was kept light, featuring two outings - a 25-point effort in 22 minutes against the Suns and a 31-point display in 32 minutes against the Kings - both in losses as the Lakers dropped five of six pre-season games.
Building rhythm with the Lakers' revamped core remains crucial to their success this season, with new addition Deandre Ayton expected to become Doncic's main pick-and-roll partner. Yet their connection is still developing.
"I mean, it's probably just more (on) me," Doncic told The Athletic after their first run together against Phoenix.
"Obviously, (I'm) the guard with the ball... I know he likes the pocket, too. So I'm trying to get used to that."
In the backcourt, Austin Reaves continues to be a vital piece, his growing chemistry with Doncic offering Los Angeles a creative, shot-making duo capable of leading the attack in LeBron's absence.
How quickly the supporting cast gels could define the Lakers' early fortunes and determine whether "Luka Magic" can turn this opportunity into an MVP run, beginning Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
