Despite leading the league in scoring, Luka Doncic could only watch from the sidelines as the Los Angeles Lakers were swept in the Conference Semifinals. The six-time All-Star faced questions about his fitness and desire to return, but after a full season in LA, he’s ready to take on the challenge again—though the roster’s future remains uncertain.
On Instagram, Doncic wrote, “Proud of my teammates who played SO hard in these playoffs,” and added a message every Lakers fan wanted to hear: “Laker Nation we will be back.” The bigger question now is who will join him next season. Speaking after the 115-110 Game 4 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, he had nothing but praise for LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
“I think we had a great team, we had great chemistry, and obviously playing with AR and Bron was an unbelievable experience. They’re two great players, and it was really fun to share the court with,” Doncic said. When asked if he would help recruit LeBron, Austin, Deandre Ayton, and Marcus Smart again this summer, his response was cryptic: “We’ll see. Can’t tell you nothing.”
Last offseason, Doncic took a leading role in shaping the roster, personally calling Marcus Smart to convince him to join the Lakers over other suitors. Sharing the same agent as Deandre Ayton made that recruitment easier. This summer, both Ayton ($8.1 million) and Smart ($5.4 million) hold player options and are expected to exercise them. But the bigger challenges lie with LeBron James and Austin Reaves, both of whom have significant contract decisions ahead.
LeBron James is entering free agency after a two-year, $101.36 million deal with the Lakers. Returning would likely require a major pay cut, or he could head home to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers—a fitting end to his career. Strong reports also link the Golden State Warriors to a potential pairing of Stephen Curry and LeBron. Once James makes his decision, attention will turn to Reaves.
Austin Reaves currently earns $13.9 million on one of the NBA’s most team-friendly contracts, with a $14.9 million player option for 2026-27. He can become an unrestricted free agent in 2027 if he stays on this deal, or sooner if he opts out. Recent reports indicate Reaves declined a four-year, $89.2 million extension, betting on earning more in free agency down the line. There’s plenty to sort out for the Lakers—and Doncic will undoubtedly have a role to play.
The 27-year-old also opened up about his frustration with the hamstring injury that sidelined him. Diagnosed with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in early April, he missed the entire postseason and spent time in Spain for PRP and stem cell treatments. “It’s very frustrating,” Doncic told reporters. “I know some people wanted me back, but obviously I wasn’t close to clearing. There was some stuff in the media that went out that wasn’t true. None of those people saw my MRIs or know anything, so it wasn’t really true. If I could be out there, I would be 100%. Everybody in that room knows that. But it’s been really tough. This is the best time to play basketball, so not being able to help my team was hard.”
Doncic added that doctors told him eight weeks to recover, and only six have passed. He’s back to lifting, running, and shooting drills but hasn’t yet resumed contact activities. This offseason, he’ll focus on both his rehab and helping the front office shape the roster for another run.