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Adam Silver, Luka Doncic

via Imago
Adam Silver, Luka Doncic
The buzz around Luka Doncic this week isn’t just about his newly ripped frame or his courtside appearance at Yankee Stadium. The Lakers superstar is on a tightly coordinated Jordan Brand media tour, and every step seems to be counting down to one major event, August 2. The first day he’s eligible to sign a four-year, $229 million contract extension with Los Angeles.
The timing of it all feels way too clean to be coincidence. His tour conveniently ends in L.A. the same day the deal becomes signable. But when asked about the obvious during a Wednesday morning appearance on NBC’s Today show, Doncic was all smirks and denial. “Big decision on Saturday… whether you sign that big contract extension,” said host Craig Melvin. “Any message for fans?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Doncic replied with a grin. “I can’t discuss anything yet.” Cue the anchor desk laughter. Everyone on set knew exactly what was happening, and more importantly, what wasn’t. “For folks who don’t know,” Melvin explained, “you could get—you could be fined if you talk about it.” That light-hearted dodge from Luka wasn’t just a wink at the audience, it was also a calculated move.
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Luka Doncic
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Under NBA rules, players can be fined for publicly discussing pending contract negotiations. And Doncic clearly wasn’t about to give Adam Silver any reason to reach for the rulebook. This is a guy with $229 million hanging in the balance. Doncic has proven savvy with the media, but his decision to joke and pivot instead of playing it coy shows that he understands the stakes.
The Lakers’ front office has all but wrapped up their offseason moves, and Luka doesn’t need to make any noise to push the agenda. The extension is coming, and everyone knows it. But the final days before eligibility are about timing, image, and control. Any slip, even a well-intended quote could complicate what’s shaping up to be the most significant Lakers commitment since the first LeBron era began. But while the contract talk remains sealed, Luka‘s offseason grind is all out in the open.
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Doncic opens up about personal sacrifice amid extension talks
This is not the same Doncic who strolled into camp last year with critics questioning his conditioning. He has made sacrifices. “I would say me and my team just tried some new things,” Doncic said. “You know, different food, different practices. I actually gave up playing basketball for one month. Which I never done in my life. So, it was kind of challenging.” One month away from the game. That’s unheard of for Doncic, who’s played year-round between the NBA, EuroBasket, and international duty since he was a teenager. But it was necessary. But Doncic describing how stepping away from basketball for a month actually turned out to be a positive move, especially for his mental health. While it was challenging at first, but ultimately refreshing.
Luka admitted that he played basketball his whole life, and wasn’t worried about losing his skills in such a short time. Instead, he embraced the break, explored other sports, and viewed the experience as beneficial for both his body and mind. It helped him reset without fear of regression.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks didn’t trade him just because of cap numbers, they had lingering concerns about his long-term physical durability. The whispers got loud enough that even Doncic, who tries not to “read much,” clearly heard the noise. “I mean, honestly, I don’t—I try to not read much…I think I was still a pretty good basketball player back then, no matter what people say. I think it was a next step in my career. At the end, I’m still 26 and, you know, I got a long way to go. So, that was a good step in my career,” Luka said about his take on the criticism toward his physique.
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Is Luka Doncic's offseason transformation a sign he's ready to lead the Lakers to glory?
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And the transformation is undeniable. Photos from his Men’s Health shoot have gone viral. Luka looks leaner, quicker, and more focused than he has at any point since his rookie year. The Lakers believe they’ve found their franchise cornerstone. Not the 40-year-old LeBron, or Austin Reaves, but Luka. This summer, he helped recruit Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart. He told the front office what he needed, defense, rim protection, spacing, and they answered.
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And now, the deal is coming. Saturday is when it all becomes official. Luka Doncic will likely sign the contract and formally begin his chapter as the face of the Los Angeles Lakers. But he’s already done the work. And most importantly, he stayed quiet when it counted, knowing full well that Adam Silver and the league office would be watching.
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"Is Luka Doncic's offseason transformation a sign he's ready to lead the Lakers to glory?"