The Los Angeles Lakers just got their next superstar.
In a shocking turn of events, Luka Doncic joins the long list of legends of the game who have played for the Purple & Gold.
No one, not even LeBron James or even Doncic, saw this coming.
Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison and Lakers GM Rob Pelinka reportedly kept these discussions under wraps before they eventually took place.
However, Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade finds it hard to believe that the league didn’t pull some strings to get this done.
Per Wade, the league wanted the Lakers to get a player of Doncic’s caliber because of the financial implications that would come with it (via NBA Central):
“This is amazing from the standpoint of the business of the game. Luka was number six in jersey sales in Dallas, Luka now shoots to number 1 in jersey sales with the Lakers. Now the international market, think about it; we just signed a new TV deal, what $25 billion, let’s just throw it out there, $25 billion TV deal. You got the top international player in LA, so the viewership, the ticket sales. Everybody, Europe, Spain, they’re all coming into LA, so I’m looking at the business,” said Wade.
Dwyane Wade believes the league wanted Luka Dončić on the Lakers
“This is amazing from the standpoint of the business of the game. Luka was number six in jersey sales in Dallas, Luka now shoots to number 1 in jersey sales with the Lakers. Now the international market, think… pic.twitter.com/zbvGwzIuMi
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 4, 2025
Of course, one would be naive to think that the NBA has no say in some of these transactions.
There have been multiple conspiracy theories about this in the past.
Then again, it’s not like this would be the first time the Lakers have gotten a star, and while ratings have been an issue this season, it’s hard to think this was the only way to get the fans to watch.
The league literally vetoed a Chris Paul trade involving the Lakers years ago.
If the NBA wanted to favor big markets all the time, perhaps the New York Knicks wouldn’t have gone decades without getting even close to the NBA Finals.
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