As the 2026‑27 NBA season looms, the Los Angeles Lakers have swapped the bright lights of Los Angeles for the rolling hills of Slovenia, where a select group of players will gather for a series of off‑court activities designed to tighten the squad’s bond.
The itinerary includes light workouts, informal basketball sessions and a surprising amount of time on the golf course, a pastime that both Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic have expressed enthusiasm for, turning a simple swing into an early test of camaraderie.
Off‑Court Play: Golf as a Bridge
While most of the roster will make the journey, rookie Cameron Carr will sit out, having been excused for the league’s rookie orientation, leaving the veterans and a handful of promising newcomers to shoulder the responsibility of shaping the team’s chemistry.
Doncic, who has taken a proactive role in shaping the trip, has framed the experience as more than a basketball camp; he wants the group to share meals, laugh over friendly competition and return to the court with a deeper sense of trust that can translate into on‑court chemistry.
The emphasis on familiarity and mutual confidence reflects a broader strategy: by spending time together away from the arena, the Lakers hope to lay a foundation of understanding that can smooth the inevitable adjustments that come with a reshaped lineup.