LeBron James praises Luka Dončić’s basketball IQ ahead of 2025–26 NBA season

The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off one of the most audacious trades in recent NBA history this past February when they acquired Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks.

Widely regarded as a once-in-a-generation talent, Dončić now joins forces with NBA all-time leading scorer and global icon LeBron James, giving the Lakers one of the most electrifying duos ever to share the court.

LeBron, entering his 23rd NBA season and first full campaign alongside Dončić, has long been an admirer of the Slovenian star. Speaking to the media recently, the 40-year-old praised Dončić’s intelligence and feel for the game.

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“I just love the way he approaches the game. I love the way he plays the game. More importantly, man, he is just a great f******g guy. Big-time savant of the game. I always use IQ as a measuring point in basketball — guys who can think the game. There are so many guys in our league who can play, but being able to think the game puts you at another level,” LeBron said.

Be ready for Luka 2.0 ☢️

Luka Doncic went NUCLEAR in EuroBasket 2025.

📊 34.7 PTS | 8.6 REB | 7.1 AST | 2.7 STL pic.twitter.com/fumsMOnWHP

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 16, 2025

With James nearing the twilight of his legendary career, the Lakers are shifting focus to Dončić as the cornerstone of their future. The franchise secured his commitment by signing him to a three-year, $165 million contract extension, which keeps him in Los Angeles through 2028. After that, Dončić will be eligible for a five-year supermax deal that could help him recover the maximum earnings lost after being traded from Dallas. His previous contract included a player option for the 2026–27 season.

The 26-year-old guard has also taken major strides in his conditioning. Determined to enter the 2025–26 season in peak shape, Dončić spent much of the offseason training in Croatia, focusing on health and fitness. A recent Men’s Health feature, published on July 28, showcased a noticeably leaner and more athletic Dončić, crediting his transformation to a gluten-free, low-sugar diet combined with intermittent fasting and high protein intake.

Dončić carried that form into EuroBasket 2025, where he almost single-handedly powered Slovenia to the quarterfinals. He led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals, including a heroic 39-point, 10-rebound, seven-assist performance in a narrow 99–91 loss to eventual champions Germany.

As the new NBA season approaches, the Lakers are betting big on Dončić to be the face of their next era — with LeBron passing the torch to a superstar ready to define the future.

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