Every Era, One Face: Doncic Inherits the Lakers' Longest…

By the Lakers Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 3

The banner count freezes at seventeen, tied with Boston since 2020, but the habit that built those banners never stopped. Luka Doncic now carries it, the newest face in a line that runs from George Mikan to Jerry West to Magic Johnson to LeBron James.

Luka Doncic of the Lakers — Luka Doncic. Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

One Star, Every Decade

George Mikan anchored six championships for Minneapolis before retiring in 1954. Elgin Baylor and Jerry West carried the 1960s teams through six Finals losses to Boston. Wilt Chamberlain, acquired in 1968, delivered a 69-win season in 1971-72. Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won five titles after Jerry Buss bought the franchise in 1979. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant won three straight starting in 2000, and LeBron James delivered the 17th banner in 2020 alongside Anthony Davis. Doncic, acquired for Davis on February 1, 2025, inherits the same job: carry the roster alone.

What the Trade Cost

The February 2025 deal sent Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-rounder to Dallas for Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris — the same 2029 pick still listed as owed to Dallas today. Payroll sits at $201.3 million, past the $200.4 million tax line, with Doncic's $49.8 million the largest number on the books, Reaves next at $41.2 million and Kessler at $30.2 million. The 2027 first is protected to Memphis and the 2029 second is owed there too, with swaps keeping Brooklyn in the mix through 2030. Building around one star has always meant paying for it — Buss paid Shaq and Kobe in salary, Pelinka is paying Doncic in picks.

The Rivalry That Still Counts

Boston is the number the Lakers measure against: seventeen titles each since the 2020 bubble championship, a tie that frames every argument about which franchise stands above the other. Doncic said at media day he "really wanted" Walker Kessler this summer, Lakers Nation reported, a sign the locker room has bought into the front office's biggest offseason swing. JJ Redick, entering his second season as head coach, has described plans to stagger minutes for Doncic and Reaves rather than running them together wire to wire. The regular season opens October 21, Golden State again the opponent, with the Boston tie unchanged until an 18th banner breaks it.

What did the Lakers trade to get Luka Doncic?

On February 1, 2025, the Lakers sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-rounder to Dallas for Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris.

How many championships have the Lakers won?

The Lakers have won 17 NBA titles, tied with Boston after the 2020 championship won with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

By the Lakers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.