The Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for what promises to be one of the most intriguing NBA seasons in recent memory, with a roster brimming with star power, high expectations, and more than a few burning questions. As the 2025-26 campaign approaches, the spotlight shines brightest on two figures: Luka Doncic, entering his first full season in purple and gold, and Austin Reaves, the breakout guard whose future with the franchise hangs tantalizingly in the balance.
For Lakers fans, this is a season of both hope and uncertainty. The arrival of Doncic at last year’s trade deadline was a seismic shift, one that signaled a new era for the storied franchise. Now, after a transformative offseason and a historic summer with Slovenia’s national team, Doncic is poised to take the reins in Los Angeles—and he’s making no secret of his readiness to lead.
“This feels like a start for me,” Doncic told The Athletic’s Dan Woike. “I’m way comfortable… especially going to training camp, you know, having practice with the guys—like I said, it’s a start for me… But I will feel way more comfortable now.”
Doncic’s journey to this point has been anything but smooth. Traded midseason by the Dallas Mavericks—a franchise that once viewed him as its cornerstone—Doncic experienced a rollercoaster of emotions in the months that followed. But he’s put the heartbreak behind him, focusing instead on building a new legacy in Los Angeles. And if his performance at EuroBasket 2025 is any indication, Lakers fans have every reason to be excited. Doncic averaged a staggering 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 2.7 steals per game, leading Slovenia to the quarterfinals before bowing out to Germany. His transformation was as much physical as mental, thanks to a rigorous summer workout and strict diet that silenced critics of his conditioning.
“I need to do this to help, to help others,” Doncic said of his evolving leadership style. “Sometimes it’s comfortable, sometimes not. Sometimes it’s great to be a leader and sometimes you have to say things that you don’t want to, but that’s part of being a leader.”
That leadership will be crucial for a Lakers team looking to rebound from a disappointing first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves last spring. Doncic, still stinging from that loss, knows the team is capable of more. “That’s how we could play,” he reflected, referencing the Lakers’ late-season wins over top contenders like the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder. “But I don’t think we played like this in the playoffs.”
As the Lakers prepare for opening night against the Golden State Warriors on October 21, roster upgrades have generated cautious optimism. The front office added starting center Deandre Ayton, defensive ace Marcus Smart via buyout, and versatile forward Jake LaRavia. These moves aim to shore up a defense that struggled at times last year and provide Doncic with the supporting cast needed to contend in the loaded Western Conference.
Yet, for all the excitement surrounding Doncic, another storyline looms large: the future of Austin Reaves. The 27-year-old guard is coming off a career-best season, averaging 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists on 46% shooting from the field and nearly 38% from three. Ranked as the NBA’s 60th-best player by ESPN heading into the new season, Reaves has established himself as one of the league’s premier complementary scorers—a player coveted by teams across the league.
But with unrestricted free agency on the horizon, the Lakers face a dilemma. Reaves and his representatives turned down a four-year, nearly $90 million contract extension offer from Los Angeles in June, setting the stage for a potential bidding war next summer. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Reaves is expected to command a deal worth well over $100 million on the open market.
“He just keeps proving himself over and over and over again. We’re just lucky to have him,” Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss told ESPN in April, underscoring the franchise’s desire to keep Reaves in the fold.
Still, uncertainty persists. The addition of Marcus Smart, a defensive-minded guard, has sparked debate about the Lakers’ starting lineup. Some insiders suggest that Smart’s presence could push Reaves to a bench role, especially if the team prioritizes defensive balance alongside Doncic and LeBron James. But others, like Lakers reporter Jovan Buha, see Reaves as an indispensable starter.
“Austin is a no-brainer starter. ... He’s clearly the Lakers’ third best player. The gap between Austin at three and whoever you want to put at four is bigger than whoever you put at four and whoever you want to say is [five],” Buha said on a recent podcast. The consensus among Lakers insiders is clear: relegating Reaves to the bench during a contract year would send the wrong message and likely prompt him to explore opportunities elsewhere.
That’s a risk the Lakers can ill afford, especially with LeBron James entering his 23rd NBA season at age 40. James remains a force, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists last season while shooting over 51% from the field and nearly 38% from deep. But as even LeBron’s agent Rich Paul has noted, fans should “appreciate the present” when it comes to the league’s all-time great. The Lakers are chasing one more title with James, but they must also prepare for the inevitable transition to a post-LeBron era.
That’s where Doncic and Reaves come in. Both are expected to shoulder a heavier offensive load this season, with Reaves’ playmaking and scoring taking on even greater importance as the Lakers look to preserve James for the postseason. Reaves is also regarded as a better defender than some critics admit, making him a vital piece alongside Doncic in the backcourt.
For Doncic, the challenge is clear: lead the Lakers back to the NBA Finals and cement his place as the franchise’s new cornerstone. For Reaves, the stakes are just as high—a chance to prove he’s worth every penny of a max-level contract, whether in Los Angeles or elsewhere. And for the Lakers as a whole, the 2025-26 season represents a pivotal crossroads, where decisions made now will echo for years to come.
With opening night just weeks away, anticipation is building in Los Angeles. The Lakers’ blend of star power, youth, and ambition has set the stage for a season that could redefine the franchise’s future. Whether it ends in triumph or heartbreak, one thing’s for sure: the eyes of the basketball world will be fixed on the Staples Center this fall, waiting to see if the Lakers’ new era delivers on its promise.
