Overview

• An ESPN survey of 20 coaches, scouts and executives gave Dončić four MVP votes for 2025-26, placing him third behind Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with one vote as the league’s best player right now.
• Dončić undertook a strict offseason program that included intermittent fasting and a personal chef, shed significant weight, and earned EuroBasket All-Star Five honors after averaging 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
• He says this season “feels like a start” in Los Angeles and that he plans to be more vocal, embracing the leadership responsibilities expected in his first full Lakers campaign.
• Buss compared Dončić’s global profile to Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, as a Lakers contingent including Rob Pelinka and the Rambises traveled to Poland to support him during EuroBasket.
• Los Angeles added Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia to complement Dončić, who signed a three-year, $165 million extension in August ahead of the Oct. 21 opener.