The Los Angeles Lakers have officially entered a new chapter. For years, the franchise was defined by LeBron James. Now that LeBron is gone, there is no question about who owns the spotlight in Los Angeles. It is Luka Dončić’s team.

That reality brings enormous expectations. Dončić is one of the most talented offensive players in the NBA, and the Lakers did not acquire him simply to be another star on the roster. They acquired him to become the centerpiece of their next championship era. But there is an important question facing Los Angeles as the 2026-27 season approaches:

Have the Lakers built a team good enough to win around Luka?

A Different Lakers Team

The biggest change isn’t simply that LeBron is gone. The Lakers are beginning to build a roster that appears much more specifically designed around Dončić’s strengths.

Luka needs players who can defend, run the floor, set strong screens and finish around the basket. He also needs reliable shooters and teammates who can take pressure off him when defenses load up. The Lakers have begun addressing those needs.

Austin Reaves has become an increasingly important part of the team’s future, giving Dončić another talented ball-handler and scorer in the backcourt. Reaves can create his own offense, make shots and play alongside Luka without needing to dominate the basketball. Then there is Walker Kessler.

Kessler could become one of the most important pieces of the new Lakers. His size, rebounding, rim protection and ability to finish around the basket give Dončić the type of interior target that can make the pick-and-roll extremely difficult to defend. For Luka, having a big man who can set screens and attack the rim creates opportunities that can open up the entire offense.

Luka Has the Keys

There is also a major difference in responsibility. When LeBron was on the floor, Luka didn’t have to carry everything. The Lakers had two superstars capable of taking over games. Now, the responsibility belongs primarily to Dončić. That means Luka’s health, conditioning and leadership will become even more important.

Everyone knows what he can do statistically. He can score from all three levels, control the pace of a game and find teammates with passes most players simply don’t see. But playoff basketball is different.

Defenses become more physical. Teams spend an entire series trying to take away a superstar’s favorite moves. That’s where the Lakers will find out whether their supporting cast is strong enough.

The Supporting Cast Will Decide Everything

The Lakers don’t need Luka to average an unbelievable number every night. They need the players around him to consistently make opponents pay for concentrating their defense on him.

If Reaves can continue developing as a scorer and playmaker, Kessler can provide dependable interior defense, and the Lakers get enough shooting and athleticism from the rest of the roster, Los Angeles could become a difficult matchup.

But if opposing teams can double Luka without consequences, the Lakers could have problems. That’s the challenge of building around a superstar who controls the ball so much.

The LeBron Comparison Will Never Disappear

Even though LeBron is no longer a Laker, his shadow will remain over the franchise. Every Lakers team will inevitably be compared to the teams LeBron led. And there will be an especially interesting comparison when LeBron returns to Los Angeles wearing a Philadelphia uniform.

That game will be more than another regular-season matchup. It will represent the transition from one Lakers era to another.

LeBron helped deliver a championship to Los Angeles. Luka is now being asked to create the next chapter.

The Pressure Is On

The Lakers aren’t rebuilding.

That’s important.

When you play for the Lakers, patience isn’t always part of the equation. The expectation is to compete for championships. Dončić understands that better than most players.

The question isn’t whether Luka is good enough to be the face of the Lakers. He clearly is. The question is whether the organization can surround him with enough talent, defense, shooting and depth to make a serious postseason run.

That’s what makes this upcoming Lakers season so fascinating.

The Luka Era Begins Now

The LeBron era gave the Lakers a championship and unforgettable moments. Now the franchise belongs to Luka Dončić.

The Lakers have an opportunity to build something different around him—something younger, more athletic and specifically designed to maximize what makes Luka one of the NBA’s most dangerous offensive players.

But putting the keys to the franchise in Luka’s hands is only the beginning. Now comes the hard part.

Building a championship team around him.

And if the Lakers get that part right, the Luka Dončić era in Los Angeles could become something very special.