While no NBA team—and certainly not one with a legacy as rich as the Los Angeles Lakers'—hangs a banner for a 2-1 start, the Purple and Gold should be generally pleased with how they've opened the new campaign.

LeBron James was pretty bummed when Luka Dončić missed a free-throw with 3:05 remaining in Friday's win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. It meant that Dončić's second free throw would only take him to 49 points,

Luka Dončić has been diagnosed with a left finger sprain and lower left leg contusion and will be reevaluated in approximately 1 week, per the Lakers.

Luka Dončić continues to etch his name into the Lakers’ history books and the early 2025-26 MVP conversation. Here's how it went.

The Lakers will rely more heavily on Dončić in the early going with LeBron James on the shelf due to sciatica. James is reportedly targeting a mid-November season debut, which gives Dončić about a month of runway as the unquestioned leader of the Lakers' lineup.

On Tuesday as they began their season, Luka Dončić greeted the crowd from midcourt pregame. He was easily the Lakers’ best and most important player — 43 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists in nearly 41 minutes to start a year in which plenty of people believe he can win his first Most Valuable Player.

NBA coach throws major shade at Lakers roster while praising Luka Doncic's historic start originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.