The Los Angeles Lakers may have secured a promising future by acquiring superstar Luka Doncic, but keeping him happy will be essential if they hope to build sustained success in the coming NBA seasons. The Slovenian star has quickly become a central figure in the franchise’s plans, and while his early experience in Los Angeles has been largely positive, Doncic recently admitted there’s one part of the city he could do without.
During his appearance on the Mind the Game podcast — hosted by LeBron James and Steve Nash — Doncic shared his thoughts on life in L.A. “This is the first city I’ve played in that has an ocean, and I really like the ocean,” he said. “That was the first thing on my mind after a couple of days. I like it very much. The only thing is the traffic.”
His complaint is one familiar to nearly every Angeleno. Los Angeles consistently ranks among the worst cities in the U.S. for traffic congestion. Still, it’s reassuring for Lakers fans that Doncic’s only gripe so far is with the city’s gridlock — not the team itself.
The 25-year-old guard performed well in his first stretch with the Lakers, despite the team’s first-round playoff exit. With a player option in his contract, Doncic could hit free agency as early as next summer — but his comments hint at a desire to stay in purple and gold long-term.
LeBron James praises Doncic
Even in a short time as teammates, LeBron James has made it clear he’s impressed with Doncic’s talent and composure. Since the blockbuster trade that sent Doncic to Los Angeles, the two have been building chemistry — both on and off the floor.
“It’s always his pace, and it’s always been his pace,” James said on the Mind the Game podcast. “He moves at his own speed, and he’s never been the type of player to let someone dictate where he goes on the floor. It’s always been the opposite. And for us, we’re just working off that — we just have to stay ready.”
Doncic’s methodical style of play has long set him apart, and it’s clearly resonating with James, a four-time NBA champion who knows what it takes to win at the highest level.
Doncic: “Playing with LeBron is unbelievable”
The admiration is mutual. Doncic also spoke glowingly about sharing the court with one of the game’s all-time greats. “I mean, it’s great. I’ve never played with a guy like this,” Doncic said. “Being traded to L.A. was different, but just to play with guys like him — it’s unbelievable.”
He continued: “I could learn so many things. First of all, off the court — all the things he does just to be ready for the game. And obviously on the court, everybody knows what kind of player he is.”
As the Lakers look ahead to the next chapter, the partnership between Doncic and James could be the cornerstone of their NBA championship aspirations — assuming L.A. traffic doesn’t get in the way.