Back in February, the Dallas Mavericks shocked the basketball world by trading Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers. Now in a new situation, the star guard is facing pressure to yield big results.
Given the franchise’s history, suiting up for the Lakers is no small task for a star-level talent. There are always lofty expectations to compete for a title, and the outside noise has only gotten louder since Doncic’s arrival. Falling short this postseason was overlooked due to the circumstances, but that won’t be the case in 2026 and beyond.
While appearing on the “Run It Back” show Thursday, NBA insider Sam Amick was asked which teams he feels are under the most pressure to contend for a title next season. He immediately shined a light on Doncic and the Lakers.
“In terms of pressure, Luka is not getting any younger,” Amick said. “They need to be title contenders this year. It’s the Lakers, so the pressure is always there.”
“Luka is not getting any younger. They need to be title contenders this year. It’s the Lakers, the pressure is always there.”
Sam Amick says LA and the Celtics have the most pressure to contend for a ? next season@sam_amick | @MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 | @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/bJD3d42uAj
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 19, 2025
As a superstar-level talent in the prime of his career, Doncic has already been under pressure to capture a championship. The stakes are simply higher now that he dons the jersey of the league’s most iconic franchise.
After making such a big splash this season, the Lakers are by far the team with the loftiest expectations heading into next year. With the duo of Doncic and LeBron James, they have an elite duo of stars capable of taking a team deep into the postseason. Meeting this high bar won’t be easy though, as the Western Conference is still loaded with viable contenders.
The key for the Lakers this offseason will be properly rounding out the supporting cast. LA has a strong third option in Austin Reaves and some strong complementary pieces. If Rob Pelinka can make one or two good moves in the margins, primarily nabbing a starter-level center, the Lakers should have ample talent to compete for a championship.
