Luka Doncic stole the EuroBasket headlines by averaging 34.7 points per game and earning a place on the tournament All Star Five, a stretch of dominance that had scouts and executives taking notes. The tournament saw him log 243 points in 233 minutes and push Slovenia to the quarterfinals against the eventual champion, Germany, all after a summer where he trimmed down and changed his training and diet. However, even more impressive was the defensive input, the energy, and the consistent leadership he showed throughout the tournament.
Los Angeles made its support clear in person and in policy as Pelinka Jeanie Buss and other Lakers officials flew to Katowice to watch him, and the team quietly folded staff into Slovenia’s operation to help Doncic compete. Rob Pelinka told ESPN that Luka’s summer proved “that he’s on that incredibly short list of ‘best player on the planet’ candidates, if not at the top,” signaling the franchise’s belief in his ceiling. The Lakers even sent assistant coach Greg St. Jean and the team equipment manager to assist Slovenia, which underlines how seriously the organization treated this summer mission.
An ESPN report revealed a more intimate level of that support, with a private group chat linking Lakers executives and health staff directly to Doncic’s inner circle before and after every game. Sources told ESPN that messages from the Lakers were consistent in tone “Hey, whatever we can do to help, we’re here.” The group chat included Rob Pelinka (Lakers GM/President of Basketball Operations), Dr. Leroy Sims (Lakers Director of Player Performance & Health), Lara Beth Seager (Doncic’s Chief Brand Officer & Business Manager), and Javy Barrio (Doncic’s Physiotherapist).
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The extra effort is understandable. We are talking about a player who has been consistently criticized with respect to conditioning, weight, and defensive effort. A major transformation and a visible change in defensive effort and leadership is bound to go hand-in-hand with the right medical support, and the Lakers showed no reluctance to do everything they could to ensure Doncic was in the best of shape.
The result was not just palpable with respect to the offensive dominance he showed at the tournament. Doncic averaged 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 7.1 assists in the tournament and posted one of the most efficient scoring summers in recent memory, including a pair of 40 point games in high pressure knockout moments. However, Doncic also demonstrated a significant rise in his vocal leadership, notably with an impassioned speech to his Slovenia teammates during a tense Round of 16 game against Italy.
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“We’re up by seven, calm the f*** down, everyone,” Doncic said. “You’re all nervous, it’s seven points. Focus, we don’t need to f***ing fight each other. We’re against them, not against ourselves, come on!” he was heard screaming at his teammates, confirming that the transformation in question was not merely physical in nature.
Regardless, the front office and Lakers fans may already have seen enough. Doncic is not just coming back looking different, he effectively embraced his role as a leader for Slovenia and the Lakers have given him every intention that they want the same to happen in the coming years, starting from the upcoming campaign. The Lakers clearly view Doncic as the central piece to the championship-contending roster that they intend to build, and well, they may have already begun making the necessary moves.
The Lakers committed to building a championship-caliber team around Doncic
With Luka in prime form, the Lakers front office is now under pressure to add a reliable defensive wing and a dependable backup center before the season opens. Sources indicate Andrew Wiggins is being discussed as a clear fit for a starting role that would help guard elite wings while allowing Luka to play with more dangerous spacing. The roster currently features several expiring contracts that Pelinka could package and the team is reportedly open to trading for a player on a deal that runs beyond 2026 to match their short and long term plans.
Analyst Jovan Buha boiled down the roster needs plainly saying “The two biggest holes on the roster for me in my opinion are… a better two way starting option that slots… And then I still think the backup center spot is a bit concerning”. That assessment lines up with what coaches saw in last season’s playoff exit where interior defense and rotation balance were tested against teams with bigger lineups. The Lakers added Deandre Ayton but depth behind him remains an open question.
Comparing profiles helps explain the Wiggins angle. Rui Hachimura averaged 13.1 points and shot just over 41 percent from three but his defensive rating has been uneven in big minutes, while Wiggins has shown the ability to guard multiple positions post season with a more consistent defensive rating and catch and shoot spacing. A trade for that type of wing could shore up match ups without reworking Luka’s core offensive responsibilities.
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Andrew Wiggins has established himself as a versatile and impactful defender, backed by both advanced metrics and traditional stats. His length and athleticism also translate into rim protection, as he consistently ranks in the 80th percentile or higher among wings in block percentage. Wiggins’ defensive value was on full display during the Warriors’ 2022 championship run, where he played a central role in containing stars like Jayson Tatum in the Finals, proving his ability to handle top assignments while boosting Golden State’s overall defensive success.