Lakers' Luka Doncic Drops Quote on NBA Championship Goal After LeBron James' Free Agency Exit

Despite losing star forward LeBron James to free agency, Los Angeles Lakers star guard Luka Doncic isn't backing down from his lofty expectations.

While speaking to reporters during Monday's media day, Doncic declared that winning an NBA championship is a realistic goal for the Lakers this season.

"If that's not your goal, I don't know what you're doing here," he told reporters .

Doncic's partnership with James came to an end this summer when the 41-year-old opted to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. Doncic said Monday that he's ready to step up as a leader for a new-look Lakers team that will be integrating multiple new faces this season.

"It feels great. Obviously, it's a new challenge," Doncic told reporters . "I was in this position in my career a lot of times, so it's not new to me. But I feel great, I feel excited, and like I said, I'm ready to go."

While the Lakers didn't make many splashy moves this offseason, Doncic told reporters that he feels new Laker additions are "underrated." One of the team's top acquisitions was rising star center Walker Kessler, and Doncic made it clear that he and management were aligned with the move, telling reporters , "I really wanted him."

Doncic was in the midst of an incredible 2025-26 campaign before he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in April. In 64 games, he led the league with 33.5 points per game while also averaging 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.6 steals. The 27-year-old told reporters that he's fully recovered from his hamstring injury and expects to be playing with no restrictions during the upcoming campaign.

Doncic and the revamped Lakers will open the preseason on Oct. 5 against the Sacramento Kings.