By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Los Angeles Lakers are entering a new chapter with a reshaped roster built around their European superstar. At preseason media day on Monday, Slovenian Luka Doncic and his new teammate, Georgia’s Sandro Mamukelashvili, focused heavily on a team-building trip to Slovenia. For a squad integrating many new players, that summer minicamp was crucial. It allowed an altered locker room to establish a baseline of chemistry well before navigating the pressure of training camp, starting Tuesday.
Doncic hosted the players in his hometown of Ljubljana to fast-track their connection. Now fully recovered from a hamstring injury, he enters camp with no restrictions. The 27-year-old guard takes over as the solo leader of the franchise following massive offseason roster turnover. “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,” he mentioned. “I’m ready to go. It’s been a long time since I played basketball.”
Mamukelashvili joined the minicamp amid national team duties in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, immediately feeling the bond the trip created. Making it to the Lakers, the 27-year-old forward-center fought through an underdog journey to secure a lucrative four-year contract. Growing up watching Kobe Bryant, he plans to bring that exact mentality to the floor. “I just want to be the guy who doesn’t settle,” he said. “I want to achieve something in my career, and I want to win. I want to be a part of something great.”
The Lakers will formally open training camp on Tuesday, followed by their preseason games. Moving into the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season, the first official fixture is against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on October 21.
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