Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers have had a very busy summer, with the Purple and Gold going all in with the Slovenian superstar as the face of the franchise for many years to come.
A couple of weeks ago, the All-Star shooting guard commited long-term to the California team, which means that the Lakers are ready to move on from one of the best basketball players of all time, the iconic LeBron James. Sooner or later, it’s going to happen, according to analysts.
Since signing Doncic, the Los Angeles managament has signed former defensive player of the year Marcus Smart – who will bring determination and grit to the team – and center Deandre Ayton, a powerful presence on the paint who can be a dominant force next season.
Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic close interaction
After Serbia‘s dominant 106-72 win over Slovenia in preparation for EuroBasket, Luka Doncic shared a lighthearted exchange with his close friend Nikola Jokic and his daughter, Ognjena. The moment goes to show the world the special bond between the NBA All-Stars.
Jokic greeted Luka with a kiss on the cheek after Doncic high-fived Ognjena, showcasing the mutual respect between the NBA icons. The tender moment quickly fueled speculation online about a potential Lakers pairing, with fans already imagining the Purple and Gold future of this superstar duo.
From a warm postgame gesture to an avalanche of “future Lakers” posts, this simple interaction sent social media into overdrive. After all, Nikola declined to sign a contract extension with the Nuggets this offseason, which could be a hint of his future in the league away from Denver.
A monumental moment for the Lakers
Luka Doncic‘s signing with the lakers was a “monumental moment” in the franchise history, according to the team’s president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka.
“We could not be more grateful for you choosing this partnership, the best young basketball player in the universe joins, for the long-term future, the best sports franchise in the globe”, Pelinka said when the Slovenian commited long-term to the franchise.
Pelinka knows how difficult it is to build a championship roster, with the Lakers most recently winning in 2020, but having a 26-year-old superstar on a contract extension is a great foundational piece, especially alongside players like LeBron James – who made All-NBA 2nd Team in his 22nd season – and Austin Reaves, plus newcomers like Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia.
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