With Lakers’ Doncic, Warriors’ Butler set to play full seasons, LA and Golden State plan to contend

Luka Doncic is doing his best to bring the Los Angeles Lakers closer, planning a recent visit to the Porsche Driving Experience for some team bonding.

Golden State star Jimmy Butler is finding ways to build camaraderie, too, holding a recent retreat at his home in San Diego ahead of training camp.

The success of Doncic and Butler in their first full seasons with new teams will go a long way in determining how things go in the wild Western Conference, with the Lakers and Warriors eyeing a championship.

They are set to battle for Pacific Division superiority, and the midseason acquisitions of Doncic and Butler should provide each franchise with additional stability and leadership alongside superstars LeBron James and Stephen Curry.

“You don’t become a team overnight,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “It’s a long season. The more guys can do that off the court, I think the better team we’ll be.”

Doncic, fresh off a three-year maximum contract extension worth $165 million keeping him with the team through 2028, can’t wait to play alongside James and Co. for a full season.

“This is one of the best organizations in the world. It’s the first time for me to get a whole preseason, and I’m just excited to play for the Lakers,” Doncic said, adding he’s more comfortable now.

“Coming into a new team, it’s kind of hard to get the leadership up, but that’s what the preseason is for. I had a great time with the national team, kind of worked on my leadership role, so I feel way more comfortable.”

Butler hosted his teammates for a retreat he considered an important part of the Warriors getting to know him even better, away from basketball.

“He has the wine cellar of an emperor,” Draymond Green declared.

“It was important for me to welcome — those are guys, like my family — (them) into my home and have a good time,” Butler said, “and let them in a little bit of my life.”

The Warriors added veteran center Al Horford after finally being able to build a roster following forward Jonathan Kuminga’s three-month contract stalemate. Guard Gary Payton II returns and Curry’s younger brother, Seth, is another veteran addition.

“That team has championship aspirations, and they should,” Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. “It will be fun to see them.”

The Sacramento Kings received a blow when forward Keegan Murray injured his left thumb in an exhibition game Oct. 10 against Portland that required surgery and will sideline him more than a month.

Here’s a look at each team in the Pacific Division in predicted order of finish:

Los Angeles Lakers

James begins his record 23rd NBA season in unfamiliar territory: For the first time in his life, he isn’t the most important player on his team.

The top scorer in NBA history appears to be focused on making it work with Doncic, not on retirement or on moving to a more immediate title contender. Redick is confident this partnership will thrive, particularly if the Lakers can get enough practice time early in the season to meld the superstars’ games.

The Lakers’ supporting cast appears to be improved after adding center Deandre Ayton, shutdown defender Marcus Smart and versatile Jake LaRavia. Austin Reaves will be highly motivated in a contract year — if he declines his 2026-27 player option, as expected. But everyone realizes the defending division champions will go as far as Doncic and James can carry them.

Golden State Warriors

The addition of Horford stepping in to complement Green will be key after Kevon Looney’s departure to New Orleans as the Warriors aim for another championship while Curry, Butler, Green and coach Steve Kerr are still together.

Golden State is versatile and deep again, with Buddy Hield, Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski offering Kerr options in his backcourt rotation alongside Curry and Butler — both of whom could need regular rest days. Payton brings a defensive punch off the bench for a team that lost in five games to Minnesota in the Western Conference semifinals after Curry went down with a hamstring injury in a Game 1 win.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers have one of the oldest teams in the league — much like the aging Warriors — with James Harden (36) and new additions Chris Paul (40) and Brook Lopez (37). Only 28-year-old newcomer John Collins is under 30. With age comes experience, but they’ll need to avoid the injury bug over an 82-game season plus the playoffs. Kawhi Leonard is healthy to start the season after playing just 37 games last season while recovering from a knee injury. The Clippers filled their biggest need by trading for Collins and signing Lopez to back up big man Ivica Zubac.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns experienced an extensive makeover during the offseason, hiring first-time NBA head coach Jordan Ott and building a roster around four-time All-Star Devin Booker. Phoenix hopes guards Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks – acquired in the deal that sent Kevin Durant to the Rockets – can form a steady backcourt with Booker. The team also acquired center Mark Williams in a draft day trade with the Hornets and is banking that better health can unlock his considerable potential. Rookie center Khaman Maluach is an intriguing prospect but might need time to develop considering he’s still just 19 years old. He was taken with the No. 10 selection.

Sacramento Kings

Three years after ending the NBA’s longest playoff drought, the Kings are once again trying to figure out how to get back to the postseason. In his first full season as an NBA head coach, Doug Christie wants his players to prioritize defense and display grittiness on both ends of the court.

First-year Sacramento general manager Scott Perry’s offseason signing of Dennis Schroder was the first step toward trying to make that approach a success. Fresh off an MVP performance for Germany in the FIBA EuroBasket, Schroder isn’t a top-flight defender but plays with a tenacity the Kings have been missing on the defensive end. Schroder’s arrival also allows Zach LaVine to move back to his customary shooting guard position after running the point for much of 2024-25 since being acquired in a multi-team trade that sent point guard De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio.

That should open things up for the rest of the Kings’ offense. Three-time All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, a double-double machine, anchors a frontcourt featuring DeMar DeRozan and Murray. The bench has some punch with perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate Malik Monk and guard Keon Ellis.

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AP Sports Writers Greg Beacham, David Brandt, Beth Harris and AP Freelance Writer Michael Wagaman contributed.

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