Los Angeles is beginning a different era, with Luka Doncic taking center stage after LeBron James decided to leave the Lakers.
Rather than waiting for official training camp, Doncic organized a four-day gathering in his native Slovenia, bringing the revamped roster together before the new season.
He also covered charter transportation for the group, which is mixing basketball workouts with golf, sightseeing and other activities in Ljubljana.
Doncic offered fans a glimpse of the trip by sharing a photo of the players gathered for dinner.
“First supper,” the player wrote on Instagram.
The offseason gathering gives several new Lakers an opportunity to become familiar with each other away from Los Angeles.
That could be especially valuable following an offseason in which general manager Rob Pelinka made extensive personnel changes.
One of the most notable moves was the arrival of Walker Kessler on a $130 million contract. Adding a high-level center had been among the priorities as Los Angeles redesigned the roster around Doncic.
Meanwhile, basketball is not the only major change surrounding the organization.
Mark Walter agreed to sell the franchise in a deal valuing it at $12.5 billion, while disagreement within the Buss family over its remaining ownership has created additional uncertainty.
Through it all, Doncic is establishing himself as the player around whom the Lakers’ next phase will revolve.
The Slovenia gathering represents an early attempt to create relationships and chemistry within a group that will look considerably different when the 2026-27 campaign begins.
Luka Doncic reveals first look at LeBron-less Lakers https://t.co/5UfA8NGyA5 pic.twitter.com/RzqUiS1tSh
— New York Post (@nypost) August 21, 2026
