Things seem to be going well for Luka Dončić with his new team. In a trade that caught the NBA world off guard, the Dallas Mavericks decided to move on from Dončić, sending him to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a deal centered around Anthony Davis.
While the Mavericks expected to come out of the trade as winners and immediate title contenders, the Lakers appear to have gained the upper hand with the impressive pairing of LeBron James and Dončić.
The Lakers have climbed into the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference with a 9-2 record with Dončić, and two-time NBA Executive of the Year Bob Myers believes Dončić couldn’t have landed in a better situation than with James as his mentor.
Why Luka Dončić Couldn’t Have a Better Mentor Than LeBron James
Speaking during a recent episode of “NBA Countdown,” Myers pointed out that reports suggested the Mavericks were frustrated with Dončić’s conditioning, work ethic, and leadership. He argued that James, one of the greatest players of all time, is the perfect mentor for the Slovenian star.
“There’s not a better player to put Luka with in the NBA than LeBron because look what the knock on Luka is — it’s leadership, work ethic, conditioning. You just put him with one of the best ever to prepare his body, to get ready for a season, to show how long LeBron has been doing it, so you couldn’t find a better guy to sit Luka with and watch him.”
Stephen A. Smith added his thoughts, saying the Lakers have a unique advantage in keeping star players:
“The Lakers, more than any other team in professional sports, have an advantage when it comes to keeping free agents. What star ever wants to leave L.A. and not play in L.A.?”
“They know how to take care of their stars. That’s their secret. Period.”
Reporting for ABC NBA Countdown – Luka Doncic’s growing comfort in Los Angeles on the court, off the court, and moving into a leased home just a few days ago: pic.twitter.com/T7J1nQVV3k
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 9, 2025
With James and Dončić in the lineup, the Lakers have looked dominant. So much so that some online sportsbooks now list them with the fourth-shortest odds to win the 2025 NBA championship, behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.
Even immediately after acquiring Dončić, the Lakers’ 2025 title odds jumped significantly.
Lakers odds to win NBA Finals BEFORE trading for Luka Doncic: +5000
Lakers odds to win the NBA Finals AFTER trading for Luka Doncic: +2000 pic.twitter.com/C4pkdxj2GH
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) February 2, 2025
However, while the excitement is palpable, the road to an NBA title is rarely smooth.
In the Western Conference, the Lakers will have to get past some combination of the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and Minnesota Timberwolves and the potential 60-win Oklahoma City Thunder — just to reach the NBA Finals.
Oh, and they also have the third-most difficult remaining schedule in the league, according to Tankathon.
Whether Dončić’s arrival will lead the Lakers back to the promised land remains to be seen, but the stage is set for what could be a defining moment in his career.