Lakers star Luka Dončić took out a full-page advertisement in the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday, addressing the city and declaring, "tonight we start our run for a championship."
"Every player dreams of holding that trophy," Dončić wrote. "To do it for all you amazing fans would mean everything to us."
The Lakers last won the championship in 2020, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way. The roster has been completely transformed since then. The team traded Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Dončić in 2025, and James left in free agency this offseason to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.
"We have a special team," Dončić wrote. "We know what you expect, and we are going to do everything in our power to deliver it." He added that Los Angeles welcomed him with open arms from the moment he arrived, and promised, "we are going to give you everything we have, every single night. No excuses. No nights off."
Dončić closed the ad by calling for fan participation this season. "But we cannot do this alone," he wrote. "You are the best fans in the world, and we are going to need you. Every game, bring it with us."
The Lakers open the regular season Wednesday night against the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Source: ESPN NBA · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing