After being criticized for his shortcomings on defense all offseason, Luka Doncic showcased incredible defensive discipline during a recent friendly matchup against Latvia.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/fannation/nba/fastbreak as How Much The Los Angeles Lakers Will Pay Luka Doncic Next NBA Season. Luka Doncic is going into his first full season as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise. Following a whirlwind season, he will now be able to start fresh.

While Doncic limped back to the locker room after this, he was diagnosed with just a knee contusion, reports Marc Stein. Doncic will return to practice with the Slovenian team on Monday as they gear up for the start of EuroBasket at the end of the month, adds Dan Woike of The Athletic.

The Basketball Federation of Slovenia also made an announcement about Doncic’s status on Sunday, confirming that the Lakers guard is not injured. He is expected to join the team as they prepare for another friendly, this time against Great Britain.

The Los Angeles Lakers have locked up Luka Doncic for the long term, signing him to a three-year extension. Now, he is officially the face of the franchise. Doncic is one of the best players in the NBA, and now he has spent an entire offseason with the Lakers. He has also been getting into the best shape of their life.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks back at Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) after driving the baseline with an off-balanced score in the fourth quarter at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, April 9, 2025.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Los Angeles Lakers have hired Jeremy Holsopple as their head strength and conditioning coach, this coming after an over-decade tenure with the Mavericks, including when Doncic was on the team.