Until now, Luka Dončić was shielded. He has never seen how bright the spotlight is in Los Angeles. He has never felt the crushing weight of carrying the 17-time champion Lakers. He has never experienced the intense scrutiny that comes with leading one of the biggest names in sports. Until now, Luka Dončić was shielded. Getty Images Until now, Dončić shared the heat with LeBron James. When the Lakers sputtered, the world pointed its finger at the man who has been the face of the league for two decades. Even though James is 41 years old, he’s still the most talked-about basketball player in the world. No one receives more criticism. Now James is gone. Sign up for the California Morning Report newsletter California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day. Thanks