Welcome to the new era of the Lakers

The Lakers are what they’ve always been — for the NBA and for the world — one of the greatest sports franchises of all time. They’ve earned that status by writing some of basketball’s most incredible chapters, past and present. And they’ll keep writing them tomorrow. That’s the essence of a dream team: one that inspires as much joy as it does rejection, that is as powerful for what it has achieved as for the fear and animosity it provokes in its countless rivals. Slowly but surely, the Lakers continue to forge an endless legacy — filled with triumphs and failures that keep them forever in the spotlight. They do it because they can, and because they can’t; because they win, and because they lose. Because, like the phoenix, they rise from the ashes to once again impose their iron will on a league that lives and breathes in their shadow. That’s why the NBA’s global expansion remains intertwined with the light cast by Los Angeles.

That same magnetism that draws the world’s eyes also attracts, one way or another, the best players on the planet — from every era and every corner of the map. And, why not say it, the Lakers have almost always been on the right side of history. Their latest project — champions in 2020 but in decline since — found a gift from the heavens in Luka Dončić. Nico Harrison’s much-criticized decision ended up delivering the NBA’s most valuable asset to its most iconic franchise. And so, Rob Pelinka — a man with no shortage of luck — unexpectedly landed a generational talent, barely 26 years old, who allowed two projects to merge into one while launching a new era of hope and championship ambition. The Lakers — one of the NBA’s founding teams (back in their Minneapolis days) — are pristine, unequivocally historic. And now they return to center stage with a Slovenian star and winds of promise at their back.

To say the Lakers’ summer has been eventful would be an understatement. But it’s been positive — because they have a unique knack for turning nearly everything they touch into something that works. Jeanie Buss, whose family has owned the franchise since 1979, sold a majority stake to Mark Walter, CEO of TWG Global, who will now serve as the team’s new principal owner. Buss, however, remains involved in business decisions. The sale closed for a record $10 billion — widely discussed at the time, but quickly absorbed by the relentless motion of the Lakers machine. Soon enough, it became clear: the goal was to surround Luka Dončić with the best possible resources for another title run. The NBA, now more open than ever (seven champions in seven years), is living off the crumbs of the Warriors’ dynasty — and in this landscape where anyone can win, the Lakers want to prove they always can.

The keys to the franchise now belong, almost definitively, to Dončić. Last season, the team reached 50 wins for the first time since 2020 (the title year), and only the second since 2011 — remarkable, considering this has been the darkest stretch in Lakers history. Yet, once again, everyone kept talking about them. Their 4–1 first-round loss to Minnesota cast a brief shadow on Dončić, but this summer his image has been completely restored. The “defensive indolence and too much beer,” as Nico Harrison once joked, have given way to the gym, a gluten-free diet, intermittent fasting, and an impressive show of strength in a EuroBasket campaign that bordered on exhibitionism. The quarterfinal loss to eventual champions Germany didn’t hurt his reputation — he was brilliant throughout. The Lakers were relieved when he bowed out before the semifinals, minimizing injury risk. A win-win. The daily bread of Los Angeles.

Dončić, who hasn’t stopped commenting on the historic trade (like everyone else), will enter his eighth NBA season leading a partially revamped roster — featuring Deandre Ayton (the No. 1 pick from Dončić’s own draft) and Marcus Smart — alongside key returnees Rui Hachimura and Jared Vanderbilt, plus the franchise’s two pillars: LeBron James (more on him later) and Austin Reaves. Luka will be the captain-general, the face of hostilities. He’ll also be what he’s been since his second NBA season: a permanent All-NBA fixture, perennial MVP candidate, and regular All-Star. There’s no better player to usher in a new era of light and ambition, of chasing rings. And if all eyes were already on him in Dallas, in Los Angeles the scrutiny — and double standard — will only grow. That blade cuts both ways: harsh criticism when things go wrong, but an aura of immortality that surrounds an essentially immortal franchise. One of a kind. Beyond sports. Always transcendent — especially now, with Dončić holding the world in his hands.

And yet, LeBron’s presence feels strangely muted. On one hand, it’s natural: the Lakers are turning a page, ready to start a new era led by Dončić rather than a 41-year-old icon gracefully nearing his exit ramp. Everything ends, after all — though the King shows no desire to slow down. Last season, he made the All-NBA Second Team, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists in his 22nd year. Now he’s set to break Vince Carter’s record for most seasons played — yet his story feels increasingly anachronistic, as if he belongs more to history than the present, no matter how much he keeps redefining it. Commendable. Historic. Extraordinary. But still… fading from the center of the narrative.

The Lakers don’t seem to be counting on him much anymore. Rumors about a potential final adventure elsewhere didn’t seem to alarm management. Pelinka repeated — almost by script — that they’d love for him to retire in purple and gold, though his tone suggested it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he didn’t. Reports also surfaced that LeBron wanted an extension, but the Lakers weren’t interested, prompting him to pick up his $50 million player option. It’s the first time in his career he’s had just one year left on his deal without clarity about the future — unusual, and telling. Even more telling: he’s had no role in the team’s offseason decisions, while Dončić has made a point of expressing daily enthusiasm about the roster and new signings.

It’s hard to know LeBron’s true motives — how much longer he plans to play, how he sees his ending. At Media Day, he said he’s thrilled to play alongside Dončić (what else could he say?) and that Luka’s arrival doesn’t affect his retirement plans. He also downplayed having only one year left on his deal. The only clear statement was that he won’t wait for his younger son, Bryce (18), to reach the league — though he’ll share the floor with Bronny this season in another historic milestone: a father and son playing on the same team. The rest? A confusing mix of public gestures, like teasing retirement before unveiling a cognac partnership. Classic LeBron: live to see it.

The rest of the story has been chaotic — bits of information trickling out that don’t exactly paint the Lakers in a great light. First, it emerged that LeBron was dealing with sciatica and, for the first time ever, would miss Opening Night. Understandable at his age, though still shocking. Then came reports that neither Ayton, Smart, nor anyone else on the roster had actually shared a training camp session with LeBron or Dončić. A strange preparation — physically and tactically — that gave the impression the Lakers were more focused on the finish line than the starting line. Still, positioning matters: you want to hit the playoffs ready for a title run in the Wild West. So maybe it’s smart not to rush things — not to put the cart before the horse.

One way or another, a new era is dawning in Los Angeles. If the long shadow of Kobe Bryant has finally receded, the same is beginning to happen with LeBron James. What happens next will depend on many things: JJ Redick’s calm hand (his best quality may be how little he talks), the attitude of the supporting cast, and the balance between individual ambition and collective harmony. There’s no hurry. The coach has already said LeBron has his own schedule; the player himself admits he doesn’t need to be sharp in October or November (In-Season Tournament be damned). So the first months will belong to Luka Dončić — his monologue, his chance to carve a new place in history. LeBron’s legacy is already secured, no matter what comes next. A new era begins for the Lakers. Or at least, that’s the plan.

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