“That’s always great to see”: Luka Doncic gets unwavering support from Former 2-time Slovenian Lakers champion

Luka Doncic spent part of his offseason showing his new Los Angeles Lakers teammates where he grew up, hosting a minicamp in Slovenia after a roster shakeup that saw LeBron James depart. The trip mixed basketball, golf and downtime, all aimed at building chemistry before the 2026-27 season tips off.Fellow Slovenian Sasha Vujacic watched it thoroughly and came away impressed, while Lakers legend Robert Horry is not ready to hand out grades just yet. Their reactions frame a Lakers team still searching for its identity.Sasha Vujacic gives honest verdict on Luka DoncicLuka Doncic flew his new teammates out to Slovenia this summer, giving them a firsthand look at his home country before the grind of an NBA season sets in. Vujacic, who won two titles with the Lakers, sat down with ESPN Los Angeles and broke down what stood out most from the trip.Vujacic said the leadership has been obvious. He pointed to how Doncic opened up his home country to guys he had just started playing with, calling it a sign that his new teammate finally feels like a true Laker. "That's always great to see," Vujacic said.“It’s been there and what Luka has been doing, he’s showing the leadership. I’m very excited about this year. I think he’s finally a Laker, Laker. And him and AR and the team that we have, I can’t wait to watch it and for him to bring the team to Slovenia to show them where he comes from, to show everybody what Slovenia is all about,” Vujacic shared.“I think they have a better understanding of what it means for him to be in L.A. and through his journey how important it is to win.”Collin Sexton and Kevon Looney also came back from Slovenia with good things to say about their new teammate. Both players praised how welcoming Doncic had been, a detail that matters for a roster trying to gel fast after losing LeBron James.Former Lakers star Robert Horry has a different opinion on Luka DoncicThe Lakers enter the season with a roster that looks almost nothing like last year's group. LeBron James is gone, and the front office brought in Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Kevon Looney, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Matisse Thybulle and Zaire Williams over the summer.Horry, who won seven championships across his career, is not rushing to judge how it all fits together. He wants to see the pieces play real minutes before forming an opinion. "I'm going to hold back right now because I want to see them," Horry said on ESPN LA.He described the new additions as specialists, players who excel in specific roles but will need time adjusting to coach JJ Redick's system. Kessler, at 7-foot-2, is expected to anchor the frontcourt and protect the rim, while Grimes and Sexton add scoring depth off the bench.Doncic and Austin Reaves anchored the offense a season ago, with Doncic putting up a league-high 33.5 points a game. The new faces around them will decide how quickly the Lakers close the gap between talent and chemistry. Thybulle, Grimes and Williams give the Lakers more length on the wing, joining Jarred Vanderbilt as options to shore up a defense that will look different from a year ago.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.