Luka Doncic expresses his enthusiasm to lead the Los Angeles Lakers after the departure of LeBron James

Los Angeles Lakers basketball star and playmaker Luka Doncic, on Monday, expressed his “excitement” to assume the role of captain of the ancient team in Los Angeles, after the departure of “King” LeBron James this summer to Philadelphia. The 27-year-old Slovenian magician said: “It is a new challenge, of course, but I have been in this situation a lot since I was young, so it is not something new for me. I feel good. I'm excited and ready. "It's been a long time since I played basketball."

Doncic has not appeared in the league since the beginning of last April against the Oklahoma City Thunder, nor was he able to return in time to face the same team that knocked out the Lakers in the second round of the playoffs.

Doncic had moved to California, in February 2025, after a long period he spent with the Dallas Mavericks, and will now assume responsibility for carrying the gold and purple colors of the Lakers to open a new page after the era of “King” LeBron James, who led the team to the “League” title in 2020.

The Slovenian was averaging more than 33 points per game last season, before suffering the injury.

During the summer, he had a period of rest and recovery, as he preferred not to participate in the international breaks.

In a sign that he has become the team's new leader, Lakers players visited him at his home in Slovenia for a five-day training camp. “It was important for me to show them where I came from,” he said. It's nice that they came. I know it wasn't necessarily easy, but it shows the kind of group we have,” he said, admitting that he was “a little nervous” while organizing the trip.

Next season, Doncic will be supported by top scorer Austin Reeves and a number of newcomers. The most prominent of them is the center player, Walker Kesler, who comes from the Utah Jazz. He said about his new colleague: “He is a great addition to us. He protects the basket, of course, but he has also developed a lot on the offensive level. "It will help us a lot."

The Lakers will begin their new season on October 21, facing the Golden State Warriors.