Even before Marcus Smart said, “When you get a guy like Luka calling, to see if you want to join something special that he’s trying to cook up over here, that meant a lot,” the message was clear. The LA Lakers surely want every decision to revolve around Luka Doncic at its core, but he has another sport, or rather a passion, calling him. Baseball. His love for the game surfaced when he cheered at a Texas Rangers playoff game. He even popped up during ALCS Game 4, sitting with Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley. Fans noticed, but this isn’t new. Luka once said he supports the Rangers because of Don Kalkstein, the Mavericks’ sports psychologist who also worked in MLB. That was back in 2022. But lately, Luka’s baseball adventures have taken a new turn.

In New York, Doncic visited a Yankees game and met Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. The three Jordan Brand stars exchanged gifts, posed for cameras, and smiled like old friends. Judge gave Luka a game-used bat and pink Air Jordan cleats. In return, Luka handed him his signature “NY vs. NY” Jordans and No. 77 Yankees jersey. This moment, organized by Jordan Brand, showed the friendship between the two. While it might have been just a visit to a baseball game, when you are that huge, it sometimes leads fans to wonder if there’s something deeper going on.

As could be seen from the video made its way to social media. When Bleacher Report posted “Luka meets Aaron Judge ahead of Yankee game,” former NBA star Baron Davis had thoughts. He reposted the clip with, “Luka WTF??? You a Dodger, bro!!! We will forgive you this time. Remember This LA homie 😂🤷🏽‍♂️” But he wasn’t done. Soon he tweeted, “How we feel about Luka hanging with the Yankees?” and answered himself: “He needs a 5-day workshop on being in LA !! Dos and Don’ts.” Clearly, Davis wanted Luka to act like an LA player, especially when representing the Lakers, and not hang with the New York’s Yankees (on a lighter note).

Still, this wasn’t just a casual meet-up. Both Luka and Judge are pillars of Jordan Brand. Their connection is part of Jordan’s wider campaign, which launched Luka’s new sneaker line and “The One” summer tour. New York kicked things off, with Dyckman Park hosting the next big moment. So was Luka being disloyal or just playing the game behind the game?

Luka Doncic refrains from answering the $229 million question

The Lakers have reshaped themselves around Luka Dončić, from the roster to the marketing. Yet with all this movement, one thing remains up in the air: his contract extension. He is eligible to sign a four-year, $223 million deal on August 2, but when asked about it on “TODAY,” Luka dodged the question with a grin and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” That answer sparked more confusion than clarity, especially from fans expecting a commitment.

While Dončić has shown plenty of involvement in the team’s offseason, recruiting players like Marcus Smart and helping land Chris Manon, his silence about staying long-term speaks louder. He has even been working hard and getting in shape this offseason. He even revealed, “I actually gave up playing basketball for one month, which I’ve never done in my life.” So it was believed that he might be here to stay for the long run. But if so, why remain silent?

Many insiders believe the extension may come with strings. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said Dončić’s message is clear: “I want to win this year, I want to win the subsequent year.” He explained, “So long as my name is signed to a piece of paper saying I am a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, I expect to be in a position to raise banners at the Crypto.com Arena.” This pertains to Luka playing a pivotal role in recruiting Smar and Manon. From their perspective, it’s a demand from Doncic, even with $229 million on the table.

The Lakers now find themselves on the edge of something big or something unraveling. They cannot afford to misstep. Because while Dončić may not have said no, he definitely hasn’t said yes either, and that silence speaks volumes.