Luka Doncic might’ve lit up the scoreboard in the Lakers’ 120-108 win over the Nuggets on 20th March, but behind the scenes, he was still finding his footing in Los Angeles. Asked about how life’s been in L.A. so far, he didn’t dance around it. “I like short answers,” he joked, before giving a glimpse into his headspace: “Just feels like getting into a new home, you know… Dallas was my home for almost seven years… just trying to build a new home and I’m getting more and more comfortable.”

Honestly, it showed. When he went back to Dallas on April 10th to face the Mavs, they honored him with a tribute video, and for a guy who doesn’t show much, Luka couldn’t hold back the tears. That night, he scored 45 and slept in his old bed again. He’d been craving that comfort, and it showed how much he hadn’t fully settled into L.A. yet. No matter how flashy the lights are in Hollywood, Dallas still tugs at him.

So when the Lakers locked up the 3rd seed and earned a full week off before their matchup with the Timberwolves, it was the break Luka didn’t know he needed. That April 11 game against the Rockets? A throwaway for Houston, who rested their starters after clinching the 2nd seed. But Luka wasn’t taking chances. He wanted that win locked down so the squad could rest. Luka didn’t hide how much it meant when asked how he much the break meant.

“Yeah, definitely, especially the game against Houston,” Doncic said. “You know, they didn’t play their guys, but that’s always a… how to say… janky game? You never know what to expect. So we said it’s a must-win game so the other guys can take off the next game. So it was important to get some days off. I just gave my body a rest—got myself right. So it’s good.”

The Lakers’ star may be putting up numbers, but beneath the surface, Luka’s still chasing more than wins. He’s chasing emotional stability—and maybe, a sense of belonging. And in efforts of finding his belonging, Doncic did what he did in Dallas as well, social work. Since arriving in Los Angeles, the 5x All-Star has not only been working to get comfortable in a new system, but also rooting himself in a community still recovering from tragedy.

The transition hasn’t been seamless. But if there’s one thing that’s helped ease the shift from Dallas to LA, it’s the immediate love from Lakers fans.

“Yeah, definitely,” Doncic said when asked about the reception. “Uh, I was a little bit surprised. You know, it’s new guy in new city. They showed me love since the day one. It’s been unbelievable for me. I feel the love for sure.”

That kind of welcome made all the difference. “Yeah, made it a lot easier,” he added.

As Los Angeles begins its long and painful recovery from the devastating wildfires—an economic catastrophe with damages estimated at $250 billion—Luka is already stepping up in more ways than one. Beyond his impact on the court, he is making an early imprint on the heart of the city, donating $500,000 through his foundation to support immediate relief efforts.

His contribution will go toward rebuilding playgrounds and basketball courts in fire-ravaged communities, offering children not just a place to play but a symbol of resilience and hope in the face of overwhelming loss.

“Because everywhere I played, you know, I gave back to community, like, like the community gave to me,” Doncic explained. “Uh, you know, first in Dallas when I came, you know, I didn’t know nothing about US and the community was so big for me. So I, I love giving back. And that’s the same thing I’m doing with LA.”

During his tenure with the Mavericks, he was actively involved in philanthropic activities. His foundation organized events for children, such as hosting a pizza party for patients at Scottish Rite for Children Hospital in Dallas. He also provided financial assistance to families with premature newborns in the NICU at Cook Children’s Medical Center, helping them with expenses like rent, utilities, and car payments. Additionally, Doncic contributed $43,000 during the Mavericks’ annual auction fundraiser, the Mavs Ball.

​Now with the Lakers, that same leadership mindset is showing up at just the right time—especially as LA gears up for a real playoff push.

Luka Doncic has full faith in his teammates

It’s been a minute since Lakers fans had this kind of energy heading into the playoffs. Not that short-lived 2023 run—they made the Western Conference Finals, sure, but let’s be honest, that always felt like a hot streak, not a real threat. This year? It feels different. It feels legit.

Luka Doncic showing up changed everything. He’s taken a huge load off LeBron James—literally and figuratively—and now Austin Reaves looks like a guy who belongs in the All-Star convo. Luka just brings that kind of balance to a squad.

Before the postseason kicks off, Luka made it clear he believes in this team. “We have guys who are willing to go to war,” he said. “Everybody is staying together, the chemistry is high.”

And if anyone knows what it takes, it’s him. He carried a pretty mid Mavs team to the Finals last year. Two years before that, he dragged them to the conference finals with even less. So yeah, he knows how to squeeze every drop out of a roster.

Are there weak spots? Of course. No real depth behind Jaxson Hayes at center, and the backcourt rotation is still a question mark. But Luka’s seen worse—and made it work.

This might finally be the year LA has more than just hope. They’ve got Luka.