EuroBasket cemented Luka Doncic as a fantasy force again, posting 34.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game to lead Slovenia into the quarterfinals. A brutal trade in February—Dallas to L.A. for Anthony Davis—spurred a dramatic offseason conditioning push: long rests, resistance work, and a split schedule that emphasized pure fitness and padel tennis. In L.A., Luka and LeBron form a high-IQ, high-usage duo, setting the stage for a potential MVP-type season. The season-opening clash with Golden State on Oct. 21 could be a watershed moment for fantasy managers tracking the Lakers’ ceiling.

The piece connects Silver’s remarks about the trade to Luka’s revamped approach, suggesting the kick in the pants fueled a transformation that could translate to sustained, elite production in a crowded Western Conference. Lakers fans and fantasy managers alike will be watching to see if the conditioning translates to durable, peak-volume performances across 82 games and into late-season playoff pushes.