Although the 2024-25 Los Angeles Lakers season is over, there is still plenty to look forward to as fans gear up for their first full season with Luka Doncic on the roster.

One date that the 26-year-old Slovenian superstar can circle on his calendar is coming up in just five months: the Lakers will face the Dallas Mavericks during a preseason game in October, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Dallas’ season ended nearly three weeks ago on April 18, when it lost 120-106 to the Minnesota Timberwolves to abruptly end its playoff hopes.

Their 39-43 record was the Mavs’ second sub-500 finish in the last three years, sandwiched around a trip to the NBA Finals in the 2023-24 season.

Doncic didn’t miss a beat after being traded to the Lakers in February. His 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game averages were all in line with what he contributed to Dallas in the first half of the season.

The former 2018 first-round pick continues to receive criticism from the media and NBA insiders. Lakers head coach JJ Redick boldly claimed the team needed to be in “championship shape” next season.

ESPN NBA analyst Jay Williams made more pointed comments, saying Doncic “has the body of a 40-year-old.”

The 6-foot-6, 230-pound guard just completed his sixth season in the league. Even including his professional years in Europe before joining the NBA, Doncic should be at the crossroads of his physical peak and mental acumen for the game, yet there seem to be many detractors who are critical of his conditioning and seriousness about the game.

The man tasked with guiding Doncic into this next stage of his career, LeBron James, may not be back with the Lakers. The 40-year-old star has only a player option year left on his contract with L.A.

He could opt out to play elsewhere, return for one final season or seek a contract extension with the Lakers–only time will tell.