Could Mavericks guard Max Christie -- who was included in the Luka Doncic trade -- win the 2025-26 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award?

Doncic was supposed to be the torch-bearer for the post-Nowitzki era after the German spent 21 illustrious seasons with the Mavs. But then, Nico Harrison ripped everyone's hearts out by sending Doncic to the Lakers in the middle of the night with no warning.

Social media users noticed Luka Doncic’s bodyguard’s hilarious reaction when a fan attempt to hug him for photos

Dončić and 21-time All-Star LeBron James will lead the way for a team looking to bounce back after a demoralizing first-round elimination at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2025 postseason, but the Lakers' lack of three-point shooting assistance might eventually spell disaster.

On Thursday, the player ratings for NBA 2K26 were fully revealed, and Doncic's 95 overall rating was the fourth-highest. Fellow Lakers superstar LeBron James came in with a 94 overall rating, which ranked seventh. Last year, Doncic had a 97 overall rating, which was second only to Nikola Jokic.

Luka Doncic's offseason efforts have seen him in the best physical condition of his career, ensuring that he is primed to put his best foot forward while representing Slovenia at the 2025 EuroBasket.

Aug 2, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka attends a press conference for guard Luka Doncic (77) announcing the signing of a 3-year, $165 million contract extension at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images