Luka Doncic, without LeBron, becomes the new king of the Lakers

Luka Doncic isn’t playing to impress. He’s playing to leave a mark. In just two games with the Lakers this season, the Slovenian matched a feat that only three names had achieved before. Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Anthony Davis. With 43 points against the Warriors and 49 versus the Wolves, Doncic became the fourth player in NBA history to start a season with back-to-back games scoring 40 or more. And he did it with flair.

His physical transformation, which many saw this summer on the cover of Men’s Health, wasn’t just for show. Luka Doncic arrived leaner, stronger, and more focused. In his second game, against Minnesota, he delivered a dominant performance: 49 points (84% on two-pointers), 11 rebounds, and 8 assists in 35 minutes. He came within a couple of missed shots of recording his eighth career game with 50+ points. Between scoring and passing, he generated nearly 60% of the Lakers’ total offense.

Leadership without LeBron

Outlets like Marca highlighted how Luka Doncic stepped up to lead the team in LeBron James’ absence. And he’s doing it without hesitation. “I want to win every game,” he said after the win over the Wolves. His impact goes beyond stats—it’s about how he elevates everyone around him.

El estreno en el casillero de ✅ de LUKA DONCIC esta temporada como local en Los Ángeles 🪄😱

✨49 PUNTOS
✨14 de 23 TC
✨11 REBOTES
✨8 ASISTENCIAS

¡Para ganar a los Timberwolves (128-110) y tras anotar 43 puntos en el anterior encuentro!

🤪Lokura en su máxima expresión. pic.twitter.com/AImtv2Ph1S

— NBASpain (@NBAspain) October 25, 2025

Austin Reaves, who finished with 25 points and 11 assists, summed it up: “Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the league. He has been since he arrived. What he does doesn’t surprise anyone.” Rui Hachimura, with 23 points, added: “Basketball is just so easy for him… that’s the beauty of playing alongside Luka.”

Ready to lead the Lakers

Coach JJ Redick didn’t hold back in praising Luka Doncic either. “He managed the game really well. We needed him. They threw double teams at him and he turned into a passer. He grabbed rebounds, scored, distributed. It was a complete performance.”

Luka Doncic’s showcase overwhelmed the Wolves, who got 31 points from Anthony Edwards and 26 from Julius Randle. But they couldn’t stop the new leader of the Lakers. Rudy Gobert, with whom Doncic has had past run-ins, once again fell short in their head-to-head battle.

With this start, the Slovenian star is proving he’s ready to lead the Lakers—and he’s doing it with the confidence of someone who knows his time has come.