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Charles Barkley believes the Los Angeles Lakers could have a better supporting cast around Luka Doncic than the Dallas Mavericks had when Doncic and Kyrie Irving led the franchise to the 2024 NBA Finals.

“I really want to see the Lakers do well. First of all, I’m a big Luka fan, a big Austin Reaves fan,” Barkley said on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “I think they’re gonna be better than people realize. Luka and Kyrie took the Mavs to the Finals, come on, man. This team is probably better; this team is probably just as good as that team.”

Doncic was the centerpiece of Dallas’ 2023-24 run to the Finals, averaging 28.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.1 assists during the regular season before producing 28.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game in the playoffs.

The Lakers now enter the post-LeBron James era with Doncic as their primary star. In 64 games during the 2025-26 season, he averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists while shooting 47.6% from the field and 36.6% from three-point range, earning All-NBA First Team honors and finishing fourth in MVP voting.

Reaves also established himself as a major offensive option. He averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games while shooting 49.0% from the field and 36.0% from three.

Reaves subsequently signed a four-year, $180 million extension with the Lakers, including a player option for the fourth season. The deal made him the highest-paid undrafted player in NBA history.

The Lakers also reshaped their frontcourt after trading Deandre Ayton to Washington. Their major addition was Walker Kessler, acquired from Utah in a sign-and-trade and signed to a four-year, $130 million contract.

Kessler gives Los Angeles a defensive anchor after averaging 11.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game for the Jazz in 2025-26. His rebounding and rim protection provide a different interior profile from the players Doncic had around him during Dallas’ 2024 Finals run.

Los Angeles also added Quentin Grimes on a four-year, $60 million contract, Sandro Mamukelashvili on a four-year, $52 million deal and Collin Sexton on a two-year, $19.2 million contract. Kevon Looney and Matisse Thybulle were among the other veteran additions.

The roster changes came after LeBron James left the Lakers for Philadelphia following eight seasons in Los Angeles. James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 60 games during the 2025-26 season.