Seven straight wins: Lakers’ Luka Doncic credits Slovenia trip for team’s strong chemistry

A summer built around bonding

Los Angeles made major roster changes over the summer, bringing in nine new players. LeBron James also left in free agency, prompting questions about whether Doncic could keep the Lakers competitive.

Doncic hosted his teammates in Slovenia for five days, with Cameron Carr the exception. The group used the visit to bond and hold a minicamp, with the roster overhaul making time together especially valuable.

After Wednesday’s win, Doncic credited the trip with helping the team become close. The report describes the visit as a success and links it to the chemistry now showing on the court.

A strong start for Los Angeles

As of Thursday, the Lakers held an 11-2 record, the league’s best, and had won seven consecutive games. Their schedule was described as soft, but the team has made the most of it.

Before the season, many pundits and experts viewed Los Angeles as a borderline playoff team. The roster’s early performance has exceeded those expectations, with the team playing beyond the apparent strength of its individual parts.

Doncic leads the charge

Doncic is averaging 38.6 points per game, the league’s top mark, along with 7.5 rebounds and 7.6 assists. He is shooting 48.9% from the field. He scored 32 points in consecutive games against the Hawks and Bucks before his numbers dipped. FanDuel listed Doncic at +155 in NBA MVP odds, behind Victor Wembanyama at +150. The report identifies Doncic’s play as the biggest reason for the Lakers’ strong start and says he could lead MVP voting if the team maintains its form.