Luka Dončić Returns to Los Angeles Ahead of Lakers Media Day
The star player is back in the U.S. after spending time in Slovenia with his family, preparing for the upcoming NBA season.
Luka Dončić is set to return to Los Angeles on Sunday in advance of the Los Angeles Lakers' Media Day on September 28.
Dončić, who led the league in scoring last season with 33.5 points per game and ranked third in assists with 8.3 per game, had been in Europe.
This return comes after a summer spent in his native Slovenia, where he hosted a minicamp for his Lakers teammates. The event, which Dončić personally funded, aimed to foster team chemistry through basketball, golf, and sightseeing activities over four days.
Dončić also shared a poignant message on Instagram, posting images of his daughters, Gabriela and Olivia, from their time together in Slovenia, acknowledging his departure to return to the United States.
Last season, Dončić finished fourth in MVP voting and was instrumental in the Lakers securing the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a 53-29 record. His performance in March, averaging 37.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 7.4 assists, propelled the team to a 15-2 record during that month. However, his season was cut short by a strained hamstring sustained on April 2, which kept him out for the remainder of the postseason.
Doctors had estimated an eight-week recovery period for his hamstring injury, and Dončić is expected to be fully healthy for the start of training camp on September 29.
During the offseason, Dončić provided input on the Lakers' roster moves. Key decisions included re-signing Austin Reaves to a four-year, $180 million contract and acquiring center Walker Kessler on a four-year, $130 million deal. The team also made significant additions, bringing in players such as Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kevon Looney, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, and Cameron Carr.
Since his trade from the Mavericks to the Lakers in February 2025, Dončić has been working towards leading the team to its first championship since 2020. The Mavericks were eliminated in the first round of the 2025 playoffs by the Timberwolves and were swept by the Thunder last season. Dončić, in his eight-year career, has yet to win an NBA title.