Heading into the 2025-26 NBA season, superstar Luka Dončić had to shoulder the load, along with rising star Austin Reaves, as four-time NBA champion LeBron James dealt with a sciatica injury that would keep him sidelined for the first 14 games of the season.
This was thought to be a tough test for a new-look Lakers squad, with Dončić being the undisputed leader and the player the storied franchise wants to build around for the next decade or more.
Fortunately for Los Angeles, Dončić was up for the challenge and has played at an MVP level while leading the team to a 12-4 record, which is currently the third-best in the West.
Lakers’ Luka Dončić Details Challenge of Playing With LeBron James
After missing the first 14 games, James was able to make his return to the floor recently, where the team didn’t miss a beat, coming out on top against the Utah Jazz in consecutive games.
Although the Lakers continue to be one of the hottest teams in the league, there have been a lot of questions about whether the team is better with James or if Dončić and Austin Reaves are the ideal duo in Los Angeles.
During a recent interview with rap legend and diehard Lakers fan Snoop Dogg, Dončić was asked what the toughest thing has been about playing with James in purple and gold, via Access Hollywood’s Instagram account (H/T Luka Updates X account).
Dončić downplayed playing with James being a challenge, which is precisely what Dogg wanted to hear.
“He just wants to be great, man,” Dončić said of James. “Just talk about his 23rd season. I say, I might not be able to walk anymore in my 23rd season and he’s still doing it at the best of the best. It’s insane.”
So far, the Dončić-James duo has been firing on all cylinders, as it seems as though James is more than willing to let his new superstar teammate have the spotlight and run the show.
It’ll be interesting to see if that contentment continues throughout this season and if the Lakers can compete with the best of the best in the Western Conference as a result, potentially making a run at a title.
The next matchup for the Lakers will be the first of the season against their crosstown rival, the Los Angeles Clippers, on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena. It will be an NBA Cup showdown between two teams that have yet to lose a game during the tournament.
