if I already have a database with data and I want to create an API based on that database do I still compulsory to use the pre created User model? No, you don't have to.
just change the table from user to your user's table: https://github.com/laravel/laravel/blob/9.x/config/auth.php
to create migration files based on your database : https://github.com/kitloong/laravel-migrations-generator