Lakers Head to Slovenia

With LeBron James' departure, Luka Doncic is now the undisputed central figure for the Lakers. To solidify his new leadership, he will host the entire squad in his native Slovenia for a four-day mini-camp in August.

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Slovenian point guard's initiative will include practices, golf, and sightseeing tours of the capital, Ljubljana. The goal is to strengthen bonds among players before the new season kicks off.

The power transition within the Lakers began in February 2025 when the team acquired Doncic. However, it was only with the official farewell of LeBron James, a four-time NBA champion and league MVP, that the Slovenian fully stepped into the spotlight. Despite their notable coexistence, forming an effective offensive trio with Austin Reaves, the future of JJ Redick's team is now squarely centered on Luka.

The six-time All-NBA selection is gearing up for a crucial season. Last season, Doncic led the league in scoring, averaging 33.5 points per game, and was in the MVP race until a Grade 2 left hamstring injury in early April prematurely ended his campaign. His absence was keenly felt in the playoffs, where the Lakers were eliminated by the Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals.

According to a July article from The Athletic, Dončić is enthusiastic about the club's moves in the market, particularly the re-signing of Austin Reaves and the acquisition of Walker Kessler, the former Jazz center. Bringing in an elite rim protector was, in fact, one of the player's wishes for this offseason.

The mini-camp in Slovenia will thus be an opportunity for Luka Doncic to integrate with new teammates like Kessler and reinforce chemistry with the rest of the squad before official training begins.