LeBron James is gone. The roster has been overhauled. And now Luka Doncic is taking over — literally.
Doncic has invited every single Lakers player to his home country of Slovenia for a four-day minicamp in August, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. The itinerary includes workouts, golf, and some sightseeing around Ljubljana, the capital. Training camp doesn’t start until later, but Doncic isn’t waiting around.
The timing makes sense. The Lakers just went through a massive shakeup after James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. Management wasted no time reshaping the roster around Doncic, bringing in center Walker Kessler and adding Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ziaire Williams, Kevon Looney, and two-time All-Defensive guard Matisse Thybulle. Austin Reaves stayed put as part of the long-term core.
That’s a lot of new faces. And Doncic wants them all on the same page before October.
More than just basketball
The workouts will obviously help with on-court chemistry. But Doncic also scheduled golf outings and time to explore Ljubljana. The idea is that getting to know each other away from the gym makes everything easier once the games start counting.
Doncic has talked before about how much he values team camaraderie. He’s not the type to just show up and expect things to click. This is him taking real ownership of the locker room, which is exactly what the Lakers need right now.
It’s also a smart move for a team that’s basically starting over. The Western Conference isn’t getting any easier — Denver, Phoenix, and Oklahoma City all reloaded. The Lakers don’t have the luxury of a slow start while everyone figures out how to play together.
Bringing 15 guys to another country for four days is a gamble in some ways. But Doncic clearly thinks the payoff is worth it.
What’s next
The minicamp is set for August, which gives players time to rest and train before the trip. After that, it’s straight into preseason prep. The Lakers are hoping this early bonding experience speeds up the adjustment period for everyone involved.
No word yet on who’s bringing their A-game for the golf portion. But you can bet Doncic has a competitive plan for that too.
Leave a Comment