With LeBron James now beginning a new chapter in Philadelphia, Luka Dončić enters the 2026/27 season as the unquestioned centerpiece of the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time since arriving via trade.
## A Near-MVP Season
Dončić averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals across 35.8 minutes in 64 regular-season appearances last season, numbers that put him firmly in the MVP conversation even though he ultimately fell short of finalist status behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama. Our full MVP race breakdown covers exactly why the field was so competitive.
## Managing an Injury-Interrupted Season
A hamstring strain suffered in early April forced Dončić to miss the remainder of last season’s regular season and the entire postseason, denying fans a look at a fully healthy Lakers team in the playoffs. He has since described taking a genuine break from basketball to fully rehab before returning for training camp.
## Life After LeBron
James’s departure to Philadelphia this summer officially hands full offensive control to Dončić, and Dan Woike of The Athletic has suggested he’s positioned to take on an even larger role as a result. The Lakers responded by re-signing Austin Reaves to a four-year, $184.8 million extension and adding Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili to bolster the supporting cast.
## Building Team Chemistry
Dončić has reportedly organized a preseason trip to his native Slovenia for teammates to bond before training camp, a clear signal of his new leadership role heading into a pivotal season for the franchise.
## What to Watch For
With James no longer around to share playmaking duties, Dončić’s usage rate and assist numbers could climb even further this season, assuming his hamstring holds up across a full 82-game slate.
## The Bottom Line
The Dončić era in Los Angeles now begins in earnest. After a statistically brilliant but injury-interrupted first full season, this year offers the clearest test yet of what a fully healthy, fully empowered Dončić-led Lakers team can achieve.