Luka Doncic makes emotional pledge Lakers fans won't forget

· Yahoo Sports

Luka Doncic makes emotional pledge Lakers fans won't forget originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Visit freshyourfeel.org for more information.

Luka Doncic was three wins away from winning an NBA title with the Dallas Mavericks in 2024. Then, a blockbuster trade after Dallas' Finals series loss to the Boston Celtics sent the Slovenian star to the Los Angeles Lakers the following February. 

Now, as the new face of the Purple and Gold, the 27-year-old heads into a new season with the aspiration to complete the mission he couldn't in Dallas.

Luka Doncic vows he won’t rest until Lakers win more championships  

Doncic's arrival in Los Angeles stands as one of the most shocking trades in league history, pulling him out of Dallas mid-season after seven years and a Finals run with the Mavericks. He wasted no time shining in a Lakers uniform. 

Last season, he posted a stellar campaign, averaging 33.5 points, 7.7 assists, and 7.1 rebounds while making the All-NBA First Team and finishing fourth in MVP voting. However, a hamstring injury cut into his availability late in the year, and the Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs once he was sidelined, ending the season short of a real title push.

He didn't wait for training camp to start on Sep. 29 to promise Lakers fans what he is targeting heading into the new season, saying, “I’m a Laker now. I’m not sure that I ever could have imagined being here and wearing the purple and gold. It’s a wonderful surprise and it feels amazing, and now I desperately want what all Lakers want: To win it all. I won’t rest until we win more championships.”

He added, “I used to let my game do most of the talking, but I want Lakers fans to know that I am ready, excited, and eager to deliver. So ready. This is a city that is used to winning and winning big. I am so honored and grateful that I get the chance now to write my own championship chapters.”

The six-time All-Star returns healthy for 2026–27 to a Lakers team that looks nothing like the old one where four-time champion LeBron James was the face. The 41-year-old signed a two-year veteran's minimum deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, parting ways with Los Angeles after eight seasons. 

His shocking move hands Doncic control of the franchise without sharing the ball or the spotlight. After James was gone, Los Angeles built a system that fits Doncic's exact style of play. Their biggest splash was trading for Utah's 7'2" center Walker Kessler, giving Doncic the elite rim protector and lob threat he desperately missed last year. 

From there, the front office loaded up on guards, locking down Austin Reaves with a four-year extension while bringing in Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes to add serious scoring punch and perimeter defense. They also signed veteran pieces Kevon Looney, defensive specialist Matisse Thybulle and big man Sandro Mamukelashvili to fill out the bench rotation.

He is still hunting for the first NBA title of his career. His pledge to the fans makes it clear that he is more than ready to win it all this season. It will be interesting to see how his chapter unfolds when the Lakers finally kick off their campaign.

More NBA news:

Read full story at source