Luka Doncic was openly disappointed when the Dallas Mavericks traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers in a stunning deal last month. That contributed to many wondering if the five-time All-Star will even be willing to remain in L.A. beyond his current contract. Doncic’s father has now given Lakers fans reason to be optimistic.
Doncic’s father, Sasa Doncic, spoke about his first impressions of his son’s time with the Lakers during a recent interview with the Pop TV news station in Slovenia. A clip from the interview circulated on social media with subtitles, and it appears Sasa may have dropped a big hint about Luka’s future in Los Angeles.
When Sasa was asked if he is concerned about some of the temptations that accompany playing for the Lakers, he said he believes the situation in L.A. is perfect for his son.
“Yes, that’s true, but as I heard in LA, celebrities are coming back to games. Maybe even Luka is the reason. He might be the reason they’re coming back,” Sasa said. “So, this has to be a motivation for him for the future. And we know that Luka plays better when the pressure is bigger. I just believe that he is born for this city and this city is made for him. I won’t say literally, but it fits with his character. I believe he’ll succeed there.”
Luka Dončić was BORN to be in LA! Saša Dončić about his son adaptation to Los Angeles and the Lakers! Translated pic.twitter.com/BoUqAnTMQW
— Greg's Court – Doncic Highlights (@DoncicNo1) March 24, 2025
None of that necessarily means Luka will re-sign with the Lakers after the 2025-26 season, when he has the ability to become a free agent. There are a lot of questions surrounding the team, the most obvious of which pertains to 40-year-old LeBron James. If the Lakers have a solid plan in place for the post-LeBron era, they should be able to sell Doncic on the idea of becoming the new face of the franchise.
Doncic has averaged 27.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 7.8 assists across 18 games with the Lakers. The team is right in the playoff hunt and should remain there barring a disaster.
There have already been reports that Doncic will want to see how things play out in Los Angeles before committing to the team. If nothing else, Sasa’s comments suggest Luka is enjoying his time with the Lakers thus far.
