Dodgers’ Luka Dončić bobblehead offers a strong perspective for the Lakers

Collaboration Between Dodgers and Lakers Announced

The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a surprising announcement about a collaboration with the Lakers. They will be featuring a Luka Doncic bobblehead at an upcoming promotional event.

This giveaway will take place during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 21st, with the first 40,000 fans in attendance receiving the bobblehead. Currently, tickets for this game range from $87 to over $2,300.

The Doncic bobblehead shows him dribbling a basketball, wearing a Lakers uniform, standing on a Dodgers podium. It’s not unusual for sports teams to collaborate on special merchandise like this. Interestingly, the Dodgers also have plans to distribute a Shaquille O’Neal bobblehead at a later game and will partner with the Los Angeles Football Club for a Son Heung-min bobblehead giveaway.

What makes the Doncic bobblehead notable is its timing: it comes just before NBA training camp starts and marks a milestone—Dodgers owner Mark Walter’s first full season as the majority owner of the Lakers.

Walter entered the spotlight in October 2025 when his ownership of the Lakers was confirmed. Since then, he has focused on restoring the Lakers to their former glory, much like he did with the Dodgers. Reports indicate he may bring Dodgers’ first-team president Andrew Friedman into a consulting role with the Lakers.

Walter bought the Dodgers in May 2012 and took over a franchise that was not performing well. His efforts quickly led them to the National League Championship Series in 2013, and they made back-to-back World Series appearances in 2017 and 2018, signaling a turnaround.

Over the past several years, the Dodgers have won three World Series titles and became the first professional sports team to achieve back-to-back championships since the Lakers did so between 2000 and 2002. They’ve been a constant presence at the top of baseball, recognized as one of the best-run teams in the league. The strong merchandise sales and fan attendance underscore this success.

So, while it may just be a bobblehead, the underlying message from the Dodgers is pretty clear: they’re looking to replicate their success with the Lakers.