Past and future converge for the Los Angeles Lakers this season as LeBron James and Luka Doncic embark on their first full NBA campaign chasing a title that could cement one legacy and launch another.

James, a four-time NBA champion and the league's all-time leading scorer, heads into an unprecedented 23rd season admitting time is winding down on his glittering career.

It's Doncic who will be key to whether James is contending for a title in what could be his final season.

The 26-year-old Slovenian star was immediately installed as the face of the franchise going forward when the Lakers acquired him in a stunning mid-season trade last February.

Doncic, who signed a three-year contract extension worth $165 million in August, appears ready for the challenge.

The player often criticized

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