Pelinka Says Dončić Leaves Lakers Decisions to Management

Los Angeles Lakers president and general manager Rob Pelinka says Luka Dončić wants to contribute ideas on roster decisions while leaving final calls to the team’s management and coaching staff. Pelinka described the relationship as collaborative, saying Dončić had told him, “I want you to do your job,” and did not want to be the general manager or head coach. Pelinka said he retains final responsibility for roster decisions. He characterized Dončić as a creative basketball mind and said they discuss potential choices, including their pros and cons, before decisions are made. The account comes from Pelinka’s remarks on a radio program; the available reports do not include a direct statement from Dončić about the limits of his role in Lakers personnel decisions. Dončić has separately spoken about taking on more leadership. In a video about a Slovenia minicamp posted to his YouTube page, he said leadership matters more to him now and that he is trying to be a leader. He also said he organized the trip to bring teammates together, describing team chemistry as important. The five-day gathering in Slovenia included basketball activities and outings, according to one account.