Luka Doncic arrived at Crypto.com Arena early. Or so he thought.
The 26-year-old Slovenian star was getting used to life as a Laker after the most seismic midseason trade in NBA history — a deadline stunner that sent the Slovenian superstar from Dallas to Los Angeles in a blockbuster deal that also involved champion big man Anthony Davis.
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But on that particular game day, he walked into the Lakers facility hours ahead of tipoff, only to find teammate LeBron James already drenched in sweat, post-workout.
“I came to the arena, and he was already done working out,” Doncic said with a wide grin as he joined James and Steve Nash on the latest episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast.
He added: “I was like, what? He shows up like 10 hours before the game. That was the main thing — I was shocked.”
It was a revealing moment in Doncic’s first extended sit-down interview since the Lakers’ postseason ended abruptly in a five-game, opening-round loss to Anthony Edwards and the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.
Though the vision of a James-Doncic super-duo stirred championship hopes across Los Angeles, the on-court reality remains a developing story.
“It’s been great. But just, you know, I think — I still think it’s a work in progress. When we two are out there... he’s been playing unbelievable, and I think it’s just still a work in progress,” the Slovenian wizard insisted.
The idea of a Doncic-James pairing was basketball heaven on paper. One is a generational offensive savant entering his prime; the other, the league’s ironman and all-time leading scorer.
The numbers support that idea.
Doncic joined the team after the All-Star break and played just 28 regular-season games in a Lakers uniform, averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists.
James logged 24.4 markers, 7.8 boards, and 8.2 dimes across 70 outings in his 22nd season, earning an All-NBA Second Team distinction and became the first player in league history to surpass 50,000 career points, combining regular season and playoffs.
“You guys are so similar. Obviously different stages of your career, but the way you see the game, the way you process the game… you’re both computers, the way you read the game,” Nash spoke when comparing the games of both superstars.
Individually, they delivered. Collectively, they’re still calibrating.
“There’s a learning curve. We’re both used to having the ball, reading the game in real time. But now it’s about rhythm — when to go, when to let the other guy go. That takes time,” Doncic reminded.
But what’s perhaps most compelling about Year One of the Luka-LeBron era is the dynamic itself.
Doncic, a four-time All-NBA First Team selection before age 26, isn’t new to stardom. But joining James — arguably the most disciplined athlete in league history — has been an education.
From James’ game-day arrival routine to his year-round regimen, Doncic has been soaking it all in.
“I’ve never played with a guy like this,” he admitted. “Just seeing all the stuff he does to get ready — off the court, in the weight room, the treatment, what he eats — it’s next level. That’s why he’s still doing this at 40.”
It’s not lost on Doncic that he might be witnessing the end of one era while launching another. And that intersection is something he’s taking seriously.
“To be honest, it’s an honor. To learn from one of the greatest — I mean, how many people get to do that?” he bared.
James has not yet publicly committed to returning next season, though few close to him expect retirement just yet. Doncic is under contract through 2028, with the franchise firmly in his hands for the long term.
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But if the Lakers are going to transform this ‘work in progress’ into a championship blueprint, this offseason will be pivotal — not just in terms of roster moves, but in trust, roles and rhythm between two basketball savants still learning how to share a symphony.
