Even though Luka Dončić has yet to play an official game in the 2025-26 season for the Los Angeles Lakers, his impact is already being felt. Following a midseason trade in the 2024-25 campaign, Dončić and the Lakers couldn’t get past the first round of the playoffs, leaving fans and the front office wondering what could have been with more time to build chemistry.
His presence is so significant that new teammates are already talking about applying for Slovenian citizenship to play alongside him on the international stage, signaling a major cultural shift within the locker room.
The NBA Player Guessing Game allows you to guess the NBA player based on clues about their team, division, height, jersey number, points, and experience.How Has Luka Dončić Already Changed the Lakers’ Culture?
That is undoubtedly the question on the minds of Lakers fans. The team’s early elimination at the hands of Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves last season made it clear that glaring issues needed to be addressed.
In response, the Lakers upgraded their roster, and Dončić underwent an impressive offseason physical transformation to improve his conditioning and defensive impact. This new dedication has not gone unnoticed. The organization showed its support by attempting to provide facilities for Dončić’s national team during EuroBasket 2025, a clear sign of their belief in the superstar’s ability to keep them in title contention.
This sentiment was echoed by his teammates, particularly center Jaxson Hayes. After seeing Dončić’s improvements with Team Slovenia and in the Lakers’ training camp, Hayes joked that getting a new passport was his top priority. “Oh my god. We’re working on getting me a Slovenian passport right now so I can play with him (Dončić) this upcoming summer.”
Jaxson Hayes says he’s woking on a Slovenian passport to play with Luka on national team
YT/sportingtrib pic.twitter.com/piAwMJEpN2
— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) October 16, 2025
While it’s doubtful Hayes is seriously pursuing Slovenian citizenship, his comment captures the immense value he believes Dončić brings to the Lakers. Although Hayes saw limited action last season, recording 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game, he is expected to benefit greatly from playing alongside a generational talent like Dončić this season.
After all, basketball fans know that Dončić has always thrived with a good pick-and-roll partner who can protect the rim and help compensate for any defensive shortcomings. In team practices and scrimmages, Hayes has likely already experienced Dončić’s elite passing firsthand. Perhaps he is aware that playing with the superstar guard can help him unlock a better version of himself, a benefit other centers have enjoyed throughout Dončić’s career.
While Hayes is still developing his offensive game, he will probably receive several lobs for easy dunks this upcoming season. Only time will tell if the new partnership proves successful in court.