Bronny James mirrored positively on the Lakers’ five-day minicamp in Slovenia, crediting Luka Doncic with serving to the group expertise his residence nation past basketball.
Talking on ESPN LA 710 final week, James stated Doncic guided the Lakers towards the perfect elements of Slovenia in the course of the Aug. 20-24 journey to Ljubljana.
“We have been with [Doncic]. He was hooking us up and getting us in the suitable locations in Slovenia, seeing probably the most overseas,” James stated, by way of New York Post.
The journey included basketball work at Stozice Area, however the Lakers additionally spent vital time sightseeing and collaborating in actions away from the court docket. The group visited Lake Bled, performed golf, went fishing and toured the basketball courts the place Doncic grew up.
James stated the nation made a powerful impression on him, significantly Ljubljana and the surroundings round Lake Bled.
“[Slovenia is] nice… The town [of Ljubljana] was nice, we had the fort that was near us. After which we went to Lake Bled, which was nice. The fort there, after which we performed the [golf] course over there close to Bled,” James stated.
“I wanna return to go to the Alps and stuff like that. The surroundings and all the pieces was nice.”
Doncic hosted 16 of his 17 non-rookie-or-ineligible teammates, with rookie Cameron Carr remaining in the US for obligatory NBA rookie orientation. The Lakers additionally held a group dinner and a two-hour follow at Stozice Area in the course of the journey.
Veteran heart Kevon Looney, who joined the Lakers on a one-year, $3.9 million contract this offseason, stated the expertise gave him a unique perspective on Doncic and his management.
“That simply exhibits his character, exhibits that he actually desires to win. He desires the individuals to know his background and why he’s how he’s. And I believe he did a great job of that,” Looney said.
Doncic enters his second full season with the Lakers after producing one of many strongest statistical seasons of his profession in 2025-26. He averaged 33.5 factors, 7.7 rebounds and eight.3 assists in 64 video games whereas capturing 47.6% from the sphere and 36.6% from three-point vary.
The efficiency earned Doncic fourth place in MVP voting, an All-NBA First Team selection and an All-Star look. The Lakers completed 53-29 earlier than being swept by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the Western Convention semifinals.
Los Angeles subsequently reshaped its roster round Doncic and Austin Reaves following LeBron James’ departure to Philadelphia. Reaves averaged 23.3 factors, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 51 video games final season earlier than signing a four-year, $180 million extension.
The Lakers also acquired Walker Kessler from Utah and added Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams in the course of the offseason. Bronny James, in the meantime, enters his third NBA season after averaging 2.9 factors, 1.2 assists and 0.5 rebounds in 42 video games as a sophomore.
