When the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Luka Doncic, the logic behind the decision was easy to understand. Los Angeles was acquiring a five-time All-NBA First Team honoree who hadn't even entered their prime—and only gave up one first-round draft pick to do so.
The unfortunate reality of trading for Doncic, however, is that he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2026—and the Lakers will need to prove to him that re-signing is in his best interest.
Doncic has solidified his place as one of the top stars that the NBA has to offer. Between individual accolades and team success, including two deep postseason runs, he's done almost everything short of winning a championship. According to a Lakers insider, removing that caveat is his top priority.
During a recent appearance on ESPN's NBA Today, Lakers insider Dave McMenamin reported that someone close to Doncic has relayed the information that the superstar's priority is to "win now."
"I spoke to someone close to Luka over the weekend and they told me that Luka's mentality is win now" - @mcten pic.twitter.com/zSZ6kNrhTZ
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) July 29, 2025
The Lakers have made on-paper improvements to the roster, but if Doncic's comments prove anything, it's that patience will be tough to come by.
Lakers superstar Luka Doncic wants to "win now"
Building a contender is easier said than done, especially when a franchise has depleted its resources in the way the Lakers have. They continue to be haunted by trades for the likes of D'Angelo Russell, Dennis Schröder, and Russell Westbrook, all of which cost it first-round draft picks.
Between the squandered opportunities to develop talent on rookie-scale contracts and the lack of tradable assets, Los Angeles has effectively tied its own hands.
The harsh reality of the Doncic situation, however, is that he didn't ask to be here. The Lakers traded for the superstar equipped with the knowledge that he's 26 years of age and has already made it to the NBA Finals once and the Western Conference Finals on two occasions.
The idea that Doncic would be comfortable with potentially punting a full season of his career after already coming close to winning a title with two different co-stars is irresponsible at best.
The upside is that the Lakers are closer to contending than some give them credit for after winning 50 games in 2024-25. Los Angeles has also improved its depth chart by acquiring the likes of Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart, and Adou Thiero.
There's even optimism that Jarred Vanderbilt will return to the level of play that helped him secure a four-year, $48 million contract with the long-awaited benefit of a healthy offseason.
Patience is far from a priority for Doncic, however, and there's ample reason to believe he's justified. He's soon to enter his athletic prime and has already racked up regular season accolades such as a scoring title and five All-NBA First Team nods to go with two deep postseason runs.
If the Lakers hope to convince Doncic to commit to a long-term future with the team, it appears they'll need to prove they can win sooner than later.