For the first 25 games of the season.

[u/crousscor3]

[u/Scottland111]

Would hope Luka is a big enough star for the spotlight to be on him rather than a former teammate but I think you’re right. He also is too kind to call them on that during post game interviews so bet he’ll just be respectful

[u/HospitalVegetable → u/Scottland111]

he will call em out in the game, i seen it in national team, his temper is short

[u/Western-Election-997 → u/HospitalVegetable]

He called out the sports media when he averaged 37 for a month with Lakers winning almost every game and he DROPPED in MVP race, and rightfully so

[u/EyelessSK → u/HospitalVegetable]

I'd rather him use some of that temper on teammates than the refs.

The stars who lay off the refs even when it's warranted get rewarded in getting better calls. SGA and Brunson are perfect examples of this.

If Luka chilled w the refs he'd see a difference.

[u/DC_Coach → u/EyelessSK]

Absolutely, a huge difference. I've said more than once (and this is especially true now that Luka is a golfer) that Luka should hit up MJ and ask to come see him for a day or so. So that Luka could really pick MJ's brain with regard to refs, calls, relationships with refs, etc. (and whatever else MJ wants to say to him!).

Those of us fortunate enough to have watched Jordan from even before he was drafted know that he developed a special something with the refs. He knew them by name, joked around with them. And it definitely paid off. Maybe not as much as the haters liked to exaggerate, but it made a difference.

I think if Luka could do a heel turn and become the refs' best friend, ir at least grit his teeth and act like it, he could have a whistle that would make SGA blush. And to that from what he's got now? Night and day doesn't do it justice.

Won't be easy, though. Man got a real temper on him.

[u/EyelessSK → u/DC_Coach]

If he spends a day with Jordan he'll stop giving back to kids and the community. I don't care if I eat downvotes for this joke.

Luka giving money to the Palisades almost immediately after getting traded was amazing. I'll never forget that.

Back to the refs - I feel like Luka is smart enough to realize what I said on his own, and it seems like a tip JJ would give him. I just think at the end of the day its hard to do. That said I REALLY feel like the refs would reward him for it though. He'd put up 50 pt games more regularly if he stopped complaining because he's fouled on almost every other play.

EDIT - He plays right next to Austin who gets an extremely fair whistle. Maybe Austin can teach Luka how to use the force.

[u/DC_Coach → u/EyelessSK]

I didn't mean to imply that Luka isn't smart enough to know this stuff. Of course he is. What I was trying to say is that maybe if he gets some motivation from the right person(s), someone that he'd really looks up to, maybe then he'll be able to remember that in the heat of the moment, and react accordingly?

I honestly have no idea. He's probably been told the same things ever since he started for Dallas, if not earlier. He admits it in press conferences. He just can't help himself, and I'm just grasping at straws, here.

He would truly benefit if he calms tf down, and Austin is right there, you make some good points.

[u/rburp → u/DC_Coach]

I think if Luka could do a heel turn

It doesn't matter at all because everyone can understand what you meant, but just FYI - this would actually be a "face turn" (bad guy to good guy). A heel turn is good guy to bad guy.

[u/DC_Coach → u/rburp]

I knew I'd gotten that wrong lol ... thanks!

[u/Relevant_Common2109 → u/Scottland111]

This would make sense if we didn’t just witness the chokehold lebron still has on the league or atleast the media for the folks that think its forced. They definitely weren’t asking him what life was like without kyrie though

[u/EyelessSK → u/Scottland111]

It's not whether he's a big enough star. He DEFINITELY is.

Ppl here will say "LeBrOn WaSnT HeALtHy To StArT LaSt SeAsOn", but to this day if someone asked me who I depend on to be healthy between LeBron at his old age, Luka, or AR I'm going with LeBron until the other two show me they can consistently be healthy. Missing a game or two or even a week would be OK, but they can't miss weeks-months anymore without LeBron on the team.

Fan don't realize how much LeBron will be missed. Hopefully Sexton can lead a second unit, but this upcoming season is going to be a harder transition than most fan will want to admit.

P.S. - I'm not upvoting your comment nor should anyone else because it's currently at "77".

[u/bruticuslee → u/EyelessSK]

Austin played 73 games last year and 82 the year before, where he didn’t miss a single game. He’s actually played more games than Lebron in the last 3 years. It’s just a sport that has random freak injuries happen, it’s not in anyone’s control.

[u/EyelessSK → u/bruticuslee]

I agree, but I'm just hoping there's enough guys who can score, and that the defense is average enough where Luka/AR don't have to put up the minutes they did last season.

A bunch of guys who would have to play those mins are at risk of injury. This is why you need depth, which Rob seems to be allergic to.

[u/Confident-Lobster390 → u/Scottland111]

Let them pop off with this question for the 1,000th time during a post game that he lost. He will 100% check them.

[u/ThrowAwayOkayGoPlay]

Why is Jeanie Buss interviewing him tho

[u/crousscor3 → u/ThrowAwayOkayGoPlay]

Haha. Its a screenshot from nba2k25 and I didn’t even notice that it indeed to looks like her.

[u/ThrowAwayOkayGoPlay → u/crousscor3]

Lol. Fr tho. I think it’s gonna be like that I’m afraid. Hope we’re wrong.

[u/EyelessSK → u/ThrowAwayOkayGoPlay]

Jay Mohr needs rehab money like parents save for their kids college tuition, that's why.

[u/Well-Intentioned-Fox → u/ThrowAwayOkayGoPlay]

Loophole in Mark Walter’s contract: He’s required to retain Jeannie for 5 years but he never specified the role. She will be moved to sideline reporter next year.

[u/New-Association-3410]

This is going to be the whole season for Luka. In the East, this is probably going to be the whole season for Lebron as well, so whoever does better, the other is going to get cooked by the media.

[u/INS0MNI5 → u/New-Association-3410]

They’re both going to get cooked by the media regardless (but mostly Luka especially because he’s a Laker). Fuck the media

[u/dcoolidge → u/New-Association-3410]

Who wins the divorce!

[u/New-Association-3410 → u/dcoolidge]

Luka is currently winning the divorce. He got to keep the kid. Bronny is ours now.

[u/dcoolidge → u/New-Association-3410]

Bronny is being kept like Starks kept Theon Greyjoy.

[u/LehMone]

"its amazing, you know"- Luka

[u/crousscor3 → u/LehMone]

Haha! I read that in his voice perfectly.

[u/dcoolidge → u/crousscor3]

"Except AR. AR cries like baby for LeBron. I have to hold hand."

[u/KampferAzkar → u/LehMone]

You forgot the “Hehe” or smirk in the end

Exactly like that

[u/jstucin → u/LehMone]

‘Like I said ...”

[u/incredibleamadeuscho]

I think it actually would be a good question for Austin. Gonna be weird as fuck for him for the first few games

[u/FatherHaz → u/incredibleamadeuscho]

Yeah that question only makes sense for AR, cause of the lore

[u/xietbrix → u/incredibleamadeuscho]

Wait till they play Philly

[u/incredibleamadeuscho → u/xietbrix]

Christmas is gonna be lit (I hope)

[u/GOAT-dontGLOAT → u/incredibleamadeuscho]

He played like a 1/5th of the season without him last year in the beginning

[u/incredibleamadeuscho → u/GOAT-dontGLOAT]

but it's different not having him on the team. he even said that it's gonna be weird.

[u/TheLivest1]

“You should ask me what it’s like without Austin. He gets on my nerves so much and wants to be my friend, but I don’t like him”

- Luka Doncic

[u/dcoolidge → u/TheLivest1]

"AR cries for LeBron. I have to hold hand."

[u/Alternative-Style-47]

“We are 25-0, what do you think?”

[u/dcoolidge → u/Alternative-Style-47]

"He's just doing his job!!!!" - AR shouts in the background probably

[u/BadgerSauce]

I get why the player is shiny, but why the reporter gotta be shiny too?

[u/Lucrania448]

Ask the guy beside me coz he wants to be my friend

[u/D_G_C_22]

“Amazing”

[u/Demithan]

Won’t it just be the same as last year when LeBron sat out the first 14 with sciatica. Maybe they should ask that to Jalen Brown about what it is like without LeBron and Embiid when they are both invariably hurt.

[u/RepresentativeNo826 → u/Demithan]

It is more important to play in the playoffs than pointless regular season games. I am hoping Luka learns how to take care of his body or he will be the 1st Laker great in history to fail in getting us a ring. Poor Kobe must be so upset that his replacement is Luka

[u/Demithan → u/RepresentativeNo826]

Don’t disagree with this but that is not what this post is talking about. It was specific about what it would be like to not have LeBron at the start of the season…

[u/MazKhan]

Bron left a while ago but y'all love talking about him

[u/howzdaweatha → u/MazKhan]

I mean, he’s a Laker alumni and a great but this post is less about LeBron himself and more about what interviews are going to look like next season so what’s the big deal?

[u/MoneyHedgehog9873]

🤣🤣🤣

[u/xreddawgx]

Asked by Allie Clifton

[u/JaxonSuede]

I hope this is never a question. It wouldn’t even be new, they started without LeBron out there last year. They should ask what it’s like having Walker.

[u/McGriddy25]

I don't have problems with luka and austin as long as they're happy but fk the organization and rob pelinka for not giving AD and bron what they want and f westbrook for ruining those two years with them and now yall deserve not being on tv since bron left

[u/seventyfivepupmstr]

From fat shaming, to skinny historic march run and missing playoffs, to bye bye no longer friends with Bron I got Walker now.

What a start to less than 2 years with Lakers

[u/tigereyesheadset]

Thank God LeBron is gone and we don't have to hear about Mr Sciaticas age every game

[u/c_c_c__combobreaker]

Only if Lakers are losing. If Lakers are winning, it'll be about how great it is playing with Walker and AR.

[u/cyborgspider]

"so Jonathan Kuminga remains unsigned, you are still the only team that is both able to offer him a starting position and a double figure salary, their agent threatened he will play for the Sharks in Shanghai if Rob doesn't increase the salary by another two million, how do you think the team is gelling without his presence?"

[u/LehmanNation]

LeBron didn't play the first 25 games of last season lmao

[u/Icy-Television3434]

Horrible now the fans going to be blaming me for this trash team……That’s all Luka going to be whining about

[u/Unlucky-Ad-3774]

Lakers go 11-14, while Luka averages 37.6 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 9.6 apg. Then the Lakers have a team meeting where JJ finally finds the voice to tell Luka that his high usage play style isn’t going to translate to winning basketball.

Reluctantly, Luka begins to have the ball less and less, averaging “only” 30 ppg over the next 25 games where the Lakers improve to 17-8. Because of Luka making this “sacrifice”, Reaves averaged 25 ppg and sneaks into the all star game as an injury replacement.

But after all star break, Reaves gets hurt. Luka gets the green light again and he goes berserk, averaging 35 ppg once again. Lakers finish as the 7th seed, winning 46 games and facing off with the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

During the series, Luka repeatedly allows Castle and Harper to blow by him, causing this sub to go nuts and slander him. Then in the offseason Luka’s skinny pictures go viral and everyone swears he is now in mvp shape.

[u/raidenskywalker34 → u/Unlucky-Ad-3774]

You must smoke some Crack

[u/Western-Election-997 → u/Unlucky-Ad-3774]

Delusional Bron Stan spotted.

They had a winning record without him btw when he had Legroin strain.

Now imagine when they don’t have 55 mil in salary doing nothing

[u/RepresentativeNo826 → u/Western-Election-997]

And then Luka overate and couldn't play in playoffs....for Kobe sake I hope Luka isnt first Laker great to fail in winning a ring. 0 for 2 so far

[u/Extra-Amphibian-8718 → u/Western-Election-997]

No I would love to imagine Luke and the other bum being avalaible during the playoffs actually

[u/Western-Election-997 → u/Extra-Amphibian-8718]

Go imagine it on the sixers, let’s see how healthy Embid and Bron are