Moves were made all around the NBA this summer, and the Los Angeles Lakers were at the center of it all. This free agency cycle saw General Manager Rob Pelinka sign Ziarie Williams, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Walker Kessler, Matisse Thybulle, and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Now, as a new era begins under Luka Dončić’s leadership, the 27-year-old superstar took his supporting cast on a bonding trip to Slovenia ahead of the highly anticipated 2026-27 NBA season.
Landing In The City Of Ljubljana
The team landed in Ljubljana, a fascinating place known for its unique architecture centered around dragon iconography. Slovenia’s culture-rich capital has thrived during the 21st century, with hundreds of people visiting every year.
The community treats tourists like family, so the Lakers’ illustrious reputation earned them royal treatment. On night one, Luka met the guys at the InterContinental Ljubljana before heading to dinner at CUBO Restaurant.
As soon as the sun rose on day two, they boarded the bus to the illustrious Stozice Arena for a hoop session. The boys rewarded themselves with some delicious ‘Pop’s Pizza ‘ back at the hotel following their practice.
Although the Lakers are an American sports organization, they’re the most popular sports franchise on Earth, and Ljubljana’s citizens went into a frenzy at every sighting.
Basketball Beyond Borders
Droves upon droves of fans tracked their movements throughout the city.
Luka tried to give his teammates an innocent tour of the city. It wouldn’t take long for the mobs to catch up. The roster fell in love with the international attention, and Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt gave a fan a memory he’ll never forget.
This was one of many highlights of the trip, and Vanderbilt created a video to capture their international festivities.
They capitalized on the positive vibes by hitting the golf course on Day three.
The Lakers Built Chemistry & Camaraderie
Lakers guards Austin Reaves and Bronny James normally play a set of holes with other golf enthusiasts, but this time, their teammates joined instead.
Moments like this are vital if the Lakers want to bring home their 18th NBA Championship. This roster is designed to accomplish that goal, and they’ll be together for a long time, given the ages of the new additions.
Even though the team is talented on paper, so many new faces in the locker room make experiences like these vital. The minicamp accelerated their chemistry, and it would be wise to make such trips an offseason tradition so that new signings can formally bond with veteran members of the roster.
Final goodbyes on day four
Luka had a blast showing his teammates his humble hardwood beginnings. As the sun rose on day four, however, their vacation had come to an end. However, Dončić didn’t want to leave his home without giving back to the city that made him.
It was August 24th, otherwise known as Kobe Day, and he wanted to spread the holiday cheer. The international superstar pushed their early morning flight to the afternoon so the Lakers could visit families at the Ljubljana Maternity Hospital and ill children at the Pediatric Clinic.
This was the biggest highlight of the trip. It was a poetic final act as the Lakers prepare to produce highlights on the court this season.
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