The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into their first full season with Luka Dončić and LeBron James—a potentially powerful pairing. Both are among the game’s elite and have made it clear they’re focused on winning at the highest level. In fact, each was vocal this summer about their expectations.
“Dončić being just 26 gives the Lakers a far longer timeline to build a championship-contending team, but that doesn't mean they can slow down and take their time. Dončić told Lakers president Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick in May that he's not interested in taking the slow approach in building a contender,” CBS Sports’ Jasmyn Wimbish wrote.
James’ agent, Rich Paul, echoed a similar sentiment about LeBron's urgency as he enters the twilight of his career.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
To support James and Dončić in their title pursuit, the Lakers signed Deandre Ayton. But with just over a week until opening night, the trio hasn’t practiced together once.
“I haven’t,” Ayton said when asked if he’s gotten to work with the team’s two superstars. “It’s something I’ve just been waiting on and just got to prepare. JJ and the coaching staff probably have something where, they can put stuff together for all of us to really grow chemistry.”
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With so little time before the season begins, building chemistry will be a challenge. Not having the Lakers’ two best passers in sync with their starting center could quickly become a problem.
With James aging and Dončić coming off a busy summer, the Lakers will need to figure things out quickly. There isn’t much time left to get their new core firing on all cylinders.