Luka Doncic Is Talking to LeBron James and Austin Reaves. It’s Mostly About Golf.

Luka Doncic has been keeping in touch with LeBron James and Austin Reaves since the Lakers’ season ended. But if you’re expecting a full-court recruiting pitch from the franchise star, you might be disappointed.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Doncic has stayed in contact with both players. The conversations are real and ongoing. They just aren’t about free agency. At least not yet.

A source close to Doncic told ESPN that most of the chats revolve around a shared hobby. Doncic picked up golf in February and has bonded with James and Reaves over the sport. So instead of contract talk, they’re likely comparing swing tips and discussing which course to hit next.

That doesn’t mean Doncic doesn’t want them back. During his exit interview, he made his feelings clear.

“We had a great team, we had great chemistry, and obviously playing with AR and Bron, it’s an unbelievable experience,” Doncic said. “They are two great players, and it was really fun to share the court with them.”

The Lakers’ front office has bigger things to worry about than whether the star guard is making phone calls. Doncic reportedly expects the organization to build a contender around him this summer. And he’s been kept in the loop on their plans ahead of the draft and free agency.

“Luka wants to be a championship team yesterday,” a source told ESPN.

The same source added that the Lakers have been telling Doncic and his camp: “Summer of ’26. We’ll show you in the summer of ’26.” Now that summer is here, the pressure is on Rob Pelinka and the front office to deliver.

Los Angeles fell short in the Western Conference semifinals against Oklahoma City. The trio of Doncic, James, and Reaves showed flashes but couldn’t close it out. That loss raised real questions about how the roster needs to change.

As for James, there doesn’t seem to be much doubt he’d want to keep playing alongside Doncic. A source close to LeBron put it bluntly: “LeBron rocks with Luka.”

So the pieces are there. The relationships are strong. The big question is whether the Lakers can pull off the moves needed to turn this core into a real title threat. Doncic may not be recruiting. But he’s watching. And he expects results.