Report: Lakers Impressed By Luka Doncic’s ‘Professionalism And Approach’

According to NBA insider Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal, the Los Angeles Lakers have been impressed by Luka Doncic‘s professionalism and approach. 

The Lakers acquired Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, who were not pleased with Doncic’s conditioning. 

“Members of the Lakers, who now work with Dončić daily, have been impressed by his professionalism and approach,” Afseth wrote. “Sources say his work habits are consistent with what he did in Dallas. He continues to lean on his personal performance team on game days, practice days, and off days. Nothing is different except the jersey.”

The Lakers can offer Doncic a four-year, $229 million contract in August. 

Doncic will make $46 million next season. He has a player option worth $48.9 million for the 2026-27 season. 

“Doncic, who is owed $46 million next season and has a player option worth $48.9 million for 2026-27, will be eligible to sign a long-term contract extension with the Lakers this summer,” Dave McMenamin of ESPN wrote. “As of August 2, L.A. can offer Doncic up to a four-year, $229 million contract, according to ESPN NBA front office insider Bobby Marks.”

Doncic was eligible to sign a five-year, $345 million extension with the Mavericks this offseason.

However, Dallas general manager Nico Harrison no longer wanted to build around Doncic, so he traded the superstar to the Lakers for Anthony Davis and Max Christie. 

“Yeah, there’s no regrets on the trade,” Harrison said during his closed-door press conference with Dallas reporters. “Part of my job is to do the best thing for the Mavericks, not only today, but also in the future. And some of the decisions I’m going to make are going to be unpopular, and that’s my job, and I have to stand by it. And one last thing, also add, every trade I’ve done has been met with high scrutiny, and so eventually I’ll earn the trust of this community that you know some of these trades are going to work out, and they have at a high-level.”

One of the best players in the NBA, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists this season with the Mavericks and Lakers. He shot 45.0% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 78.2% from the free-throw line. 

The Lakers are down 1-0 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs.