Zijin's future! The Lakers have become Doncic's team: Even LeBron must adjust his style after returning

On October 20th Beijing time, foreign media BasketNews previewed the Lakers' new season, stating that the Purple and Gold's future is now before them, with Doncic taking on the leadership role early to prepare for the "post-LeBron era." The following is the related content—

When the Lakers stunned the NBA by trading for Doncic, hardly anyone anticipated such a rapid change in the team's central focus. As LeBron's career nears its end, the Lakers have begun reshaping their future around the Slovenian star. With LeBron injured and Doncic shining brightly, the torch handover in the Purple and Gold may be happening sooner than anyone expected.

In February this year, the Lakers officially finalized the trade that brought Doncic to California, causing genuine shock across the league. Few believed the Mavericks would part with their cornerstone—especially after Doncic had just led them to the Finals the previous season.

The Lakers' intention with this trade was clear: to acquire a top-tier star while simultaneously paving the way for the "post-LeBron era."Doncic, now 26, is at the peak of his career; LeBron will turn 41 this December, and although he remains highly effective, the end of his playing days is inevitable. From the moment Doncic joined the Lakers, the team's timeline has clearly shifted toward him rather than continuing to build around LeBron.

In their first half-season playing together, Doncic was still recovering from physical issues but helped lead the Lakers to the first round of the playoffs alongside LeBron, ultimately falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This summer, there were minor tensions between the Lakers' management and LeBron's camp, but as expected, LeBron chose to stay.

In the opening weeks of the new season, LeBron will be sidelined due to sciatica, expected to miss about four weeks before a re-evaluation. This means missing at least 15 regular-season games, increasing the Lakers' reliance on Doncic. Additionally, it is widely believed that LeBron will manage his body with extreme caution this season to maintain peak condition for the crucial stages. This "conservative approach" further confirms that Doncic has truly become the core of the Lakers' plan.

For the Lakers, the early part of this season will serve as a "rehearsal" for the "post-LeBron era"—once LeBron recovers, it will be he who must adapt: now Doncic is the team's centerpiece, and everyone, including LeBron, needs to adjust to fit Doncic's style.

From the preseason performances, Doncic looks much more comfortable in coach Reddick's system than when he first joined mid-last season. Being abruptly traded from Dallas (where he thought he'd spend his entire career) last season disrupted his focus and affected his on-court form.

However, during this off-season, Doncic underwent a "complete transformation"—

Physically: he committed fully to training and successfully lost weight;

Team support: the Lakers fully backed him representing Slovenia in the EuroBasket, even sending staff to watch live;

Mentally: before the final preseason game against the Kings, coach Reddick specifically noted that Doncic had "become calmer and more composed."

"When his mindset is clearer—that is, when his psychological and emotional states are balanced—he can be freer to be himself, which shows in his expressions, interactions with teammates, and communication with coaches," Reddick explained.

In the two preseason games against the Suns and Kings, Doncic averaged 28 points with a three-point shooting accuracy of 52%. In the game against the Kings, he posted a comprehensive stat line of 31 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block. After the game, Doncic expressed great positivity: "It felt great; in many possessions, everyone touched the ball and kept moving. I think bringing this pace into the regular season is crucial."

This season's Western Conference competition remains fierce, and it won't be easy for the Lakers to reach the end—especially if LeBron's performance falls short of expectations. ButReddick and his team clearly understand that the transition centered around Doncic must begin earlier than initially planned.

After all, Doncic once led the Mavericks to an unexpected Finals appearance, exceeding everyone's expectations for that season. The Lakers hope he can replicate such a performance, possibly even with LeBron's support once he returns from injury.

One thing is indisputable:After months of adjustment, the Lakers have now become "Doncic's team". This has always been the team's plan, but circumstances have accelerated the process. Now, the Slovenian star must prove that with his extraordinary talent, he can lead this championship-hungry team back onto the winning path.