The Los Angeles Lakers struck a deal with the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic, which will go down as one of the craziest trades of all time. After a disappointing first-round exit last season, Doncic got back into shape during the offseason and is back to his elite form.
Doncic Is Dominating
It was clear that Doncic was extremely out of shape last season and was fatigued late into games. Entering the 2025 season, Doncic had revenge on his mind, looking to return to the dominant player he was just a few seasons ago. Through two games thus far, he’s done exactly that, averaging 46.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists. His stellar performance has earned him a place in the history books.
Per Dave McMenamin, he became the first Laker in franchise history to start a season with two consecutive 40-point games. He also becomes just the fourth player in NBA history to start the season with two 40-point games, joining Anthony Davis, Michael Jordan, and Wilt Chamberlain.
He’s been unbelievable to start the season, putting the Los Angeles Lakers on his back. No player in the league has played better than Doncic so far, as he’s already one of the leading candidates for Most Valuable Player. Having him back to his former self is huge for the Lakers, as they’ll be without LeBron James for multiple weeks.
Lakers Will Be A Top Team In the West
Doncic is playing at an unbelievable pace right now, and some of the other players on the roster are being overshadowed as a result. Austin Reaves has been a nice pairing with Doncic, averaging 25.5 points, 10.0 assists, and 6.0 rebounds in two games this season. The addition of Deandre Ayton has been great as well, averaging over 12 points per game and 7 rebounds. Their starting five is well-rounded, and they’re still without their superstar.
The team, compared to last season, is more well-rounded and can win without one of its best players. In years past, the Lakers would sink fast without James, but they are proving to be just fine without him this year. We’ve seen that Doncic can take over a team on his own and lead the deep to a deep playoff run without many playmakers around him.
The reality is that Doncic is playing at a level that can win Los Angeles a championship, and they’ll only be harder to beat when James eventually returns from a sciatica injury on his right side, which causes nerve pain in his lower back and leg.
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