Lakers’ Luka Doncic put on notice ahead of 2026 seasonoriginally appeared onThe Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as aPreferred
The Los Angeles Lakers are going to be totally different this year. The obvious difference is that LeBron James is gone. But, it’s not just about James. When a player of his status leaves a franchise after nearly a decade, it shifts the whole dynamic of that team and its remaining stars
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Now, Luka Doncic is really the face of this franchise. He’s a superstar and can handle the pressure, but one NBA analyst thinks he’s going to really have to step it up in the new season
He’s not wrong, either. The Lakers are in a bit of a tumult after losing James, and this next season is pivotal
Luka Doncic needs to ‘show up in shape’ for 2026 season, NBA analyst says
In a piece for Bleacher Report out on Saturday, Grant Hughes names one player with the most to prove on every NBA team going into the new season
For the Lakers, it’s Doncic. Hughes notes that while Doncic will “absolutely going to get his numbers” and is a “great bet to average more points and free-throw attempts per game than anyone else in the league,” there are some questions
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“But can he show up in shape? Can he avoid the injuries that have broken him down over the course of almost every season in his career?” he asks. “Can he deliver in the postseason against a Western Conference headlined by the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs?”
He also wonders if Doncic can finally win MVP, which he’s been a favorite for but hasn’t been able to do in eight seasons. So, the pressure is on. It’s time for Doncic to deliver
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