The LeBron James era in Los Angeles is officially in the rearview mirror, and Luka Doncic wasted no time introducing himself as the new face of the city.
Ahead of Wednesday night’s season opener against the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers’ superstar made an instant impression on everyday fans before even stepping onto the court.
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Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a 2026 NBA preseason game against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 5 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif. (NBAE via Getty Images)
Doncic bought out an entire parking lot outside Crypto.com Arena to give fans free parking and teamed up with Metro Bike Share to hand out free rides across Los Angeles all day long.
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If you have ever tried driving into downtown Los Angeles on a game night, you know parking alone can feel like a shakedown.
Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers look on against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter of a preseason game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Oct. 8, 2026. (Getty Images)
Dropping 50 bucks just to leave your car on cracked asphalt for three hours is enough to ruin an evening before it even starts.
Anyone hoping Luka’s generosity would carry over to the concession stands inside would be sorely disappointed. Free beer is definitely not on the menu, and you are still going to pay 20 dollars for a draft and 10 bucks for a soda once you clear security.
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Taking a family of four to a ballgame is still a heavy hit on the bank account. Still, the gesture sends a clear message that this is Luka’s team now.
For years, Lakers basketball was the LeBron show, complete with all the celebrity drama, roster turnover, and constant circus that came with it. With James gone, the keys to the most famous franchise in basketball belong entirely to Doncic.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a game against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 8, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif. (NBAE via Getty Images)
Coming off a frustrating hamstring injury that cut his 2025-26 season short, he enters this fresh campaign with an enormous chip on his shoulder and the weight of 17 championship banners on his back.
Free parking and pedal bikes build quick goodwill, but hanging banner 18 is the only thing that truly matters. Wednesday night against Golden State is just the opening chapter of the Luka era.
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