Latest news with #LukaDončić
New York Times
10 hours ago
- Health
- New York Times
The Lakers are about to get the best version of Luka Dončić. But first he's committed to himself
If you were on the internet Monday, you saw the pictures, the proof of Luka Dončić's offseason dedication plainly obvious. Sixteen hours a day, six days of week, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar didn't eat, saving all his meals for an eight-hour window. Dončić put the basketball away, spending one month after the worst basketball season of his NBA life ended, and gave himself completely over to his training team, who got to work on strength and conditioning. He was intentional with the meals he consumed and the movement on the court and in the weight room that he took. Advertisement And, here in the final week of July, the initial results are visible in an incredibly public way. Dončić — once the punchline to fat jokes, the guy who cracked beers and broke opponents' ankles, the player who Dallas publicly bet against and privately disparaged — is on the cover of Men's Health Magazine. The lines separating the muscles on his tanned arms are sharp. The cushion around his bearded jaw line has evaporated. His physique has been completely redone thanks in no small part to the work of Anže Maček and Javier Barrio, the drivers of his physical wellness team. Our digital cover star, Luka Doncic, ready to take his game (and the Lakers) to new levels of dominance. And this summer shred has been years in the — Men's Health Mag (@MensHealthMag) July 28, 2025 But if you just see a shrinking Dončić, you're missing the bigger picture. This, the body, the publicity, the determined look in his eyes, the sweat reflecting the spotlights, it's all part of a bigger plan. That plan, according to some around Dončić, was going to be fulfilled no matter what happened in his pro career. To everyone else, it's so clearly a response to the humiliation and pain caused by the Dallas Mavericks' decision to cast him away from the city where he'd planned on spending the entirety of his career. Maybe, when you see the magazine pictures, you see skinny Luka. Maybe you see someone ready to unleash Kill Bill rage on the NBA with one of the game's most noticeable revenge bodies. But, maybe, you should step back and see how everything that's happened over the past few years has led Dončić to this place, a perfect storm allowing the Lakers to get him at a time when he's never been more committed. There's little suspense around the team and the league surrounding Dončić's intentions this weekend, when he can sign some version of an extension with the Lakers. The timing of all of this, though, is a signal to the NBA that this version of Dončić is ready to reclaim his spot as one of the best in the world — if not singularly. Advertisement The magazine spread (and three accompanying stories) dropped Monday as Dončić began a bit of a summer tour of the United States, beginning with multiple appearances in New York City before a one-day stop in Chicago and ending, most importantly, in Los Angeles. Not coincidentally, the stop in L.A. coincides perfectly with Aug. 2 — the date Dončić can sign a contract extension with the Lakers to formalize a partnership that the organization has eagerly been planning for since it acquired him for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick on Feb. 1. A link up with @TheJudge44 for Luka's first time at Yankee Stadium 🤝@luka7doncic | @Lakers | @Yankees — NBA (@NBA) July 29, 2025 When Dončić arrived in Los Angeles, he hadn't played in more than a month. He was noticeably out of shape, carrying a combination of extra weight and extra stress from a midseason trade that uprooted him and his young family from the one American city they'd ever lived. Some sources in Dončić's inner circle believed he was on the path toward this kind of physical transformation whether or not Dallas general manager Nico Harrison had bet against him. Dončić and his management team began working with Maček and Barrio in 2023. One year later, he helped carry the Mavericks to the NBA Finals and immediately followed that by playing for his national team in Slovenia's failed bid to make the Paris Olympics. The belief among Dončić's team was, to some degree, that as he matured as an NBA professional, he'd adopt some better habits and completely buy into a stricter strength and conditioning program instead of the more competition-driven approach he'd been comfortable with. But improvement isn't always linear, and Dončić suffered a number of physical setbacks in 2024 that certainly made it easier for the Mavericks to explore options other than handing him a blank check mega-extension. Whether Dončić would've been the same quality of fitness model had he not been traded is sort of irrelevant. Same if you think the driving reason for this change is to stick it to the Mavericks for trading him (and justifying it by highlighting his weaknesses) or if they came at a moment where he had the most financial motivation And depending on how he structures this extension, it could be the precursor to the richest deal in NBA history in 2028 (when he could hit free agency after 10 years of league service). Advertisement Ultimately, all that matters is that this is the version Dončić is now — a perfect storm for the Lakers where they're getting a player at a time when he has the most reasons to commit himself to his craft, to his new team and to the promise that he's the league's most talented player. His approach this summer, from shedding weight to adding strength to recruiting new teammates, shows who Dončić is as a player and as a pillar of the Lakers now as much as any cover shoot could. But the pictures that dropped Monday weren't subtle. Whether it's revenge, maturity or timing, it's not difficult to see that the Lakers are about to get the best version of Dončić. And that, they think, will be worth every penny. (Photo of Dončić and Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge: New York Yankees / Getty Images)
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Under the radar in L.A.- Luka's revenge tour
After an up-and-down debut season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Luka Dončić is back—and he's not playing around. The 26-year-old superstar is entering the 2025–26 season with a revamped mindset, a trimmed-down physique, and a renewed commitment to greatness that has teammates, rivals, and executives watching closely. In a recent feature with Men's Health, Luka showcased a noticeably leaner build and opened up about a complete lifestyle overhaul. The Slovenian star cut out gluten and sugar from his diet, doubled down on cardio, and tailored his offseason training with the singular goal of becoming 'the best version' of himself—on and off the floor. 'Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better,' Luka told Men's Health, smiling as he pointed out how much stronger and faster he feels. But it's not just aesthetics—Dončić is modeling his training after Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, both known for their relentless work ethic and championship mentalities. This version of Luka is leaner. Sharper. Hungrier. Despite battling injuries and missing games, Dončić still delivered superstar numbers last season: 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game over 50 appearances. But the Lakers missed the playoffs, and for a player of Luka's caliber, that wasn't good enough. Now, he's making sure history doesn't repeat itself. The Lakers, clearly impressed with Luka's dedication, are reportedly prepared to offer him a four-year, $229 million extension—the moment he becomes eligible on August 2. It would solidify Dončić as the long-term face of the franchise, a mantle he's slowly starting to embrace. Sources inside the Lakers front office say there's no hesitation: 'This is his team now.' To support their cornerstone, the Lakers have surrounded Dončić with key offseason acquisitions, including Marcus Smart, DeAndre Ayton, and Jake LaRavia. Smart credited a personal phone call from Luka as the reason he signed. 'If someone like Luka calls you up, you listen,' Smart said. 'He's locked in. That's the kind of guy you want to build with.' Luka's offseason focus extends beyond training and diet. It's about legacy. By modeling his discipline after Kobe and MJ—his idols—Dončić is committing to more than MVP numbers. He's committing to championships. To leadership. To greatness. And in LA, that means everything. Luka Dončić has never looked better—and he's never been more serious. From body transformation to leadership growth, the Lakers' franchise player is entering his prime with purpose. With a $229 million extension looming and a loaded roster around him, Dončić is ready to rewrite the story of his career—and maybe the future of the NBA.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Lakers star Luka Dončić on offseason workouts, conditioning: 'My whole body looks better'
You can't criticize Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Dončić for much. After being the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2018, Dončić won the Rookie of the Year award. He then proceeded to make the first team All-NBA team in five of his first seven seasons. But despite that excellence, Dončić has never received high marks for his conditioning. He's been criticized for coming into the season out of shape and not taking care of his body in the same manner as other NBA superstars. Those concerns seem to be a thing of the past. After weeks of rumors about Dončić's offseason workouts and conditioning, the 26-year-old finally spoke about the work he's put in, saying, "My whole body looks better." Dončić has adopted a gluten-free, low sugar diet, taken part in intermittent fasting and engaged in two-a-day workouts while training in Croatia for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season, per Men's Health. It's all an attempt for Dončić to return to the court in better shape than ever. While conditioning issues have followed Dončić throughout his career, last year was different. He battled a calf injury which limited him to just 50 games. A midseason trade to the Lakers also shook things up for the superstar. Following the Lakers' early playoff exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dončić wanted to get to work immediately, per Men's Health. One day after that loss, Dončić texted Seager to start his offseason training program ASAP. 'So every summer I try my best to work on different things," he says. "Obviously, I'm very competitive. This summer was just a little bit different, you know. It kind of motivated me to be even better.' His team put him through weight training and pushed him into other sports as a way to allow Dončić to rest his basketball muscles. Dončić was told he could not pick up a basketball during the first month, something he initially pushed back on. That month ended quickly, and Dončić was able to get back on the court. While he didn't make any specific comments about his weight or weight loss, Dončić implied that he feels lighter. When asked about the 42-inch vertical leap he showed off at the 2018 NBA Scouting Combine, Dončić said he believes he could exceed that number now, per Men's Health. 'This year, we didn't measure the jumping yet,' he says. 'But I think it's a little bit higher.' It's tough to imagine Dončić getting much better on the court. Few players in NBA history have matched his statistical excellence, though he's yet to win a championship. Following the Lakers' early playoff exit, head coach JJ Redick made waves after suggesting the team needed to "get in championship shape" if it hoped to win a title. Many viewed that as a shot at Dončić' and his conditioning. Whether or not the remark was intended for Dončić, he heard it loud and clear. It certainly sounds like Dončić will report to Lakers camp in the best shape of his life. It also sounds like this will be the new normal for Dončić going forward, as he told Men's Health this was "just the start." That's a scary thought for opposing defenders. Dončić was already an MVP candidate prior to his intense offseason workouts. If he can push himself to finally win the award, that could be just the thing the Lakers need to take home yet another championship.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NBA Stars Set to Shine (and Sit Out) at EuroBasket 2025 - Luka and Giannis Take Center Stage; Wemby Benched?
EuroBasket 2025 (Image via FIBA) EuroBasket 2025 is right around the corner, and it's shaping up to be a thrilling showcase of elite talent, passionate fanbases, and high-stakes international basketball. While the tournament will feature several NBA stars proudly representing their nations, it will also miss some big names due to injuries and team decisions. From Luka Dončić suiting up for Slovenia to Giannis Antetokounmpo chasing gold with Greece, here's a complete breakdown of who's in, who's out, and what it all means for Europe's top basketball competition. EuroBasket 2025 Headliners: Luka and Giannis Take Center Court Luka Dončić: Slovenia's Driving Force Luka Dončić returns to EuroBasket 2025 not just as a star, but as a national hero. After leading Slovenia to gold in 2017 at just 18 and delivering more dazzling performances in 2022, Dončić now enters the tournament at the peak of his powers. Fresh off another MVP-caliber NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers, he'll serve as the backbone of Slovenia's Group D campaign, which features tough matchups against France and co-hosts Poland. Backed fully by his NBA team—who even sent a coach to help maintain his fitness—Dončić boasts a staggering 19.4 PPG average in EuroBasket play. Expect plenty of step-back threes, jaw-dropping assists, and Luka magic as he aims to add another medal to his collection. Giannis Antetokounmpo: Hungry for Glory Giannis and LeBron (Image via Getty) The 'Greek Freak' is back and laser-focused on delivering his country its first EuroBasket title since 2005. Giannis Antetokounmpo returns to international duty fresh from a dominant 2024–25 NBA season, bringing his trademark blend of explosive offense, stifling defense, and leadership. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Enlarged Prostate? Do this simple trick before Bed and see what happens Prostate Health Journal Click Here Undo With his brother Kostas alongside him and a revamped supporting cast, Giannis will carry Greece through Group C, promising highlight-reel plays and intense competitiveness every game. The gold medal is firmly in his sights. Who's Missing: Wembanyama Sidelined, France in Transition Victor Wembanyama : Sitting Out Due to Health Precaution One of the tournament's most anticipated stars, Victor Wembanyama , will not suit up for France. After suffering a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) that ended his NBA season early, the San Antonio Spurs and Wembanyama's medical team prioritized recovery over risk. Though progressing well, the 7-foot-4 sensation won't take the court this summer, a cautious move endorsed by France's national program. To make matters tougher, fellow NBA veterans Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier have also opted out, leaving France to lean on a crop of talented young players. NBA Talent Across the Continent Beyond Luka and Giannis, EuroBasket 2025 will feature a strong lineup of NBA stars and former players representing their countries. Here's a look at the NBA flavor each team is bringing: Player NBA Team National Team Notes Nikola Jokić Denver Nuggets Serbia Two-time NBA MVP, Serbia's offensive anchor Lauri Markkanen Utah Jazz Finland Stretch-four with elite shooting and versatility Jusuf Nurkić Charlotte Hornets Bosnia & Herzegovina Dominant inside presence Vlatko Čančar Denver Nuggets Slovenia Reliable forward and Luka's trusted teammate Various French rookies Multiple NBA teams France Sidy Cissoko, Bilal Coulibaly leading the youth Willy Hernangómez Ex-NBA, now Europe Spain Veteran post scorer, vital to Spain's game plan Combined with top-tier European league stars, EuroBasket 2025 is bursting with basketball excellence. EuroBasket 2025 Tournament Info: Dates and Venues Here are the necessary details about EuroBasket 2025: - Dates: August 27 – September 14, 2025 - Host Countries: Cyprus, Finland, Poland, and Latvia - Final Venue: Riga, Latvia - Format: 24 teams, round-robin group stage followed by single-elimination knockout rounds Also read: Damian Lillard's Hilarious Milwaukee Tale: Jrue Holiday's House and Bad Wi-Fi that Formed an Unexpected NBA Bond EuroBasket 2025 promises to be a can't-miss celebration of basketball culture and elite-level play. Whether you're watching for national pride or to follow your favorite NBA stars on the global stage, this summer's showdown is set to deliver unforgettable moments. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
New York Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Lakers chasing centers with midlevel exception
The veteran big man has an offer to play in Greece. Meanwhile, teams are discussing a potential seven-team trade. Darren Yamashita / Imagn Images Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Armed with the $14.1 million mid-level exception, the Lakers are expected to chase Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez and the Atlanta Hawks' Clint Capela, with the surprise addition of Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton as another target on their list. The Lakers are not making calls gauging Austin Reaves' trade value, one of the sources said. As free agency begins, the Lakers are motivated not to sacrifice long-term flexibility as they begin to arm themselves for a potential run at another superstar to pair with Luka Dončić as soon as next summer. Reaves, who turned down a nearly $90 million extension last week, is viewed as a key piece alongside Dončić, the star the team is building around in the present and future. Joe Ingles will sign a one-year, $3.6 million deal to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team source confirmed. ESPN was first to report. Johnny Juzang — who will be released by the Jazz, per ESPN — has a BORD$ value of $2,831,914 and a salary of ... $2,840,000. I'm surprised the Jazz waived him with three non-guaranteed years still left on his deal, an extremely cap-friendly arrangement that would have set the Jazz up to use his contract in future trades or keep him as a cheap fifth guard. I bring all this up because any team with a trade exception worth at least $2.58 million can claim Juzang, 24, off waivers. His 2025-26 salary would be guaranteed, but the acquiring team would get two non-guaranteed years on top of that. Jaime Valdez / Imagn You can probably rule out the Toronto Raptors, now without a president of basketball operations, being too active in free agency, barring a trade that radically changes their financial circumstances. Assuming they let Jamison Battle's contract guarantee and sign second-round pick Alijah Martin at a deal starting at the minimum, they will have 14 players on guaranteed deals while butting right up against the luxury-tax threshold. Although they have some small-ball center options in Scottie Barnes, Jonathan Mogbo and ninth pick Collin Murray-Boyles, they could probably use a more traditional center behind Jakob Poeltl. However, that would take them into the luxury tax, even with just a minimum salary. It is not uncommon for teams to go into the year as a tax-paying team, deciding whether or not to duck below the threshold before the trade deadline. That is what the Raptors will probably do. Another option: trading Ochai Agbaji, who will be battling for minutes on the wing with Gradey Dick and Ja'Kobe Walter, into another team's midlevel exception. Agbaji is in the final year of his rookie contract, making $6.38 million this year. Agbaji had a nice season last year, and it is probably worth keeping him around and letting the three (plus, uhh, Battle) battle it out. Having some wing depth behind Brandon Ingram is a good idea, yes?. Moving Agbaji is an option, though, if they are concerned about letting this play out throughout the season. Justin Ford / Getty Images Oklahoma City Thunder All-NBA wing Jalen Williams will have wrist surgery this summer, team president Sam Presti said Monday. He is expected to be full healthy by the start of next season. Williams suffered a ligament tear in his wrist in a game against the Phoenix Suns late in the regular season and played through it during the playoffs, Presti said. The Thunder knew he would need surgery at the end of the season. Williams, 24, is eligible to sign a maximum contract extension this summer. Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the 26-year-old Timberwolves guard, now seems likely to get more than the midlevel exception, most likely via sign-and-trade. How is this possible in a market where Brooklyn is the only cap space player? For one, that seems to no longer be the case. Detroit appears set to operate as a cap room team, one with $16.9 million in space right now that could increase via trade in the coming hours. But the other reason is Atlanta's $25 million trade exception from the Dejounte Murray trade. That exception is a potential avenue for the Hawks to move to the front of the line in sign-and-trade talks with Minnesota, which will not want to take back any money but would love a draft pick to replenish its coffers (not to mention a big trade exception of their own for next summer). Atlanta could even 'recycle' the exception for another 12 months by sign-and-trading Caris LeVert to a third team as part of the same transaction. The Hawks are currently $33 million below the tax line, so retaining LeVert while also signing NAW would seem a tight squeeze. Soobum Im / Getty Images Deandre Ayton is a surprise name on the market after his exit from Portland, but my BORD$ formula puts his number at $12,633,013 for the coming season, just below the projected nontaxpayer midlevel exception of $14.1 million. Ayton averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds in 40 games last season, but he projects more as a high-level backup than a starter at this point. He'll rebound and can slide his feet on the perimeter, but his low motor constantly frustrates, and offensively, he's all 2-point jump shots. He's not even a notably good shooter, and all the jumpers make him alarmingly allergic to free throws, with just one for every eight field goal attempts. Ayton shot 82 percent at the cup last season and was more offensively potent in his Phoenix years. Entering his age-27 season, can he get some of the back? Brooklyn's plan to re-sign Ziaire Williams to a two-year, $12 million contract with a second year team option, according to ESPN, means the Nets technically have $24 million in cap room remaining. But that amount can be more than doubled by renouncing cap holds on Day'Ron Sharpe, Trendon Watford and Cam Thomas, waiving three small non guaranteed contracts and moving Williams' money into their room exception. The correct answer too how much room the Nets have is still 'whatever they need.' Michael Reaves / Getty Images On Friday, the Chicago Bulls traded Lonzo Ball straight-up to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro. Once again, no draft picks are coming the Bulls' way. For the second straight summer, the Bulls did a favor for a contending team and received the bare minimum in return. The failures of this front office to sustain a competitive team and their disregard for a common-sense approach to rebuilding have again made the team a curiosity in the NBA and an object of ridicule in Chicago. Last year, the Bulls dealt Alex Caruso, their most valuable trade chip, to the Oklahoma City Thunder for point guard Josh Giddey, whom the Thunder were looking to move. Caruso was the kind of player OKC needed to win a title, and lo and behold, it worked out exactly as planned. This time around, Cleveland, which should battle Indiana as the top team in the East next season, was looking to get out of the last two years of Okoro's three-year, $33 million deal and add a backup point guard capable of meaningful minutes. We'll see how that unfolds this season. Read the rest of my column in the link below below. GO FURTHER Did Bulls take step forward or step back? They're in same place they always are Troy Taormina / Imagn As the Phoenix Suns rebuild their roster, adding size, length and toughness, their success next season likely will come down to a key question: How will players wired to score like Devin Booker and Jalen Green co-exist in the same backcourt? Booker, 28, is an organizational pillar, eligible this summer for a two-year extension worth $150 million that will keep him in place through the 2030-31 season. He is Phoenix's career scoring leader and arguably one of the top 15 players in the league. The problem is that Booker was not at his best last season. Although he put up substantial numbers, his shooting percentages were among the worst of his career. He needs to rebound. Green, 23, is the centerpiece of a recent trade that sent superstar Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. Once one of America's top high school prospects, the athletic 6-foot-4 guard skipped college and played a season for the G League Ignite before the Rockets selected him with the No. 2 pick of the 2021 draft. Green played in Houston for four seasons, averaging 20.1 points and 3.4 assists. To better understand how this might work, The Athletic spoke with four coaches who have worked with Green at the professional level, as well as a 10-year NBA veteran who serves as a television analyst for the Rockets. Their experiences with Green reveal his path to this point, and it might provide a glimpse of his future. Read on for their answers. GO FURTHER How Jalen Green and Devin Booker can co-exist in a Suns backcourt and reversal Ethan Miller / Getty Images Because the Bucks moved themselves under the prohibitive second apron at last season's trade deadline by moving Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson to the Wizards for Kyle Kuzma, they will have a full set of salary cap exceptions at their disposal this offseason. That will be undeniably helpful as the Bucks have a large group of their own free agents that they would like to retain, but in another way, it will also limit what they can ultimately spend. If a team uses the non-taxpayer midlevel exception ($14.1 million) and spends more of it than the taxpayer midlevel exception ($5.7 million), that team is hard-capped at the first apron, which means they cannot exceed the first apron at any point in the 2025-26 season. So, as we go through the Bucks' free agents, it is important to note that using the non-taxpayer midlevel exception would put a cap on how much the Bucks can spend. But that might not end up being the only cap put on the Bucks' spending this offseason. Per league sources, there is some belief around the NBA that the Bucks would like to avoid the luxury tax this upcoming season. As we showed above, that would mean roughly $5.6 million less in spending power for the team this offseason. As we will show below, the Bucks' real feelings on this issue will likely be tested quickly because their free agent spending power is somewhat limited, now that they've agreed to a new contract with Bobby Portis. Read more in my Bucks free agency primer. GO FURTHER Bucks free agency primer: After retaining Bobby Portis, what's next for Milwaukee? David Berding / Getty Images With Naz Reid and Julius Randle in place, the Wolves will likely have to say goodbye to their other key free agent. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has likely priced himself out of Minnesota, which is trying to stay under the second apron to avoid repeater penalties on roster construction. Alexander-Walker is expected to land a deal for at least the nontaxpayer midlevel exception, and possibly higher, which is too rich for the Wolves to go to and not go over the second apron. The Wolves do have a few young guards and wings, including Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark and Rob Dillingham, who the team believes are ready to step in and take Alexander-Walker's minutes should he move on. The Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat are among a number of teams to watch in the hunt for Alexander-Walker. The Wolves have very little room to operate under the second apron as free agency is set to open on Monday. They declined options on center Luka Garza and forward Josh Minott to open up a little bit more wiggle room, giving them access to the taxpayer midlevel exception of $5.7 million. But the Wolves would only use it if they felt the player would make a real impact because of how close it would take them to the second apron and hamstring them next season if injury woes hit. Adding another ball-handler would be a priority with Alexander-Walker's likely exit. The Wolves could also look at adding another traditional center to play behind Gobert. Garza could also return on a minimum deal, team sources said. The Utah Jazz tendered a qualifying offer to center Oscar Tshiebwe, league sources tell The Athletic. This will make the former Kentucky star a restricted free agent The Jazz declined a qualifying offer on center Micah Potter, making him an unrestricted free agent Harry How / Getty Images There was no retirement announcement, no planning of a farewell tour. But yesterday's news that LeBron James opted into the final year of his contract — a first for him — made one thing extremely clear: This is the beginning of the end for maybe the best player to ever grace a basketball court. It's a fascinating double dose of reality, because of course a 40-year-old player entering his 23rd season is about to retire. James will become the longest-tenured NBA player ever this year, by both season total (23, topping Vince Carter's 22) and games played (he's 49 games behind Robert Parish's total of 1,611 games). But also … I don't think I ever truly expected James to retire, only because of how unremarkable his longevity has become. His career has spanned seven presidential terms now. LeBron playing in the NBA is just a part of the fabric of our reality. Yet it will come to an end — at some point. Read on for a quick explainer on where we are. This is an excerpt from The Pulse, The Athletic's daily newsletter. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox. Ronald Martinez / Getty Images You know how you can tell the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Dončić era has officially begun? Because LeBron James had one of his classic media moments, with his longtime agent, Rich Paul, explaining James' decision to pick up his $52.6 million player option for next season in the kind of way that would have caused concern for his employer in years past, and it was met with the organizational equivalent of a shrug emoji. His leverage isn't what it once was these days, and that has everything to do with Dončić. 'LeBron knows the Lakers are building for the future, and he also wants to compete for championships,' Paul told The Athletic and ESPN. 'We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie (Buss) and Rob (Pelinka) and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.' Only time will tell if this will be remembered as an early goodbye letter, but the tone of the messaging was such that it's fair to wonder how the LeBron-Lakers partnership will go from here. Read more on the current dynamic between James and the Lakers. GO FURTHER LeBron James' contract decision marks major Lakers shift — toward Luka Dončić Winslow Townson / Getty Images Denver Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke has had a difficult week. While discussing the limitations for teams that venture into the second apron, a payroll threshold well above the luxury tax that restricts the types of transactions an organization can make, Kroenke dropped what most fans consider a no-no. He referenced a three-time MVP, Nikola Jokić, and the word 'trade' in the same sentence. 'For us as an organization, going into that second apron is not necessarily something that we're scared of, (but) I think that there are rules around it that we needed to be very careful of with our injury history,' Kroenke told reporters on hand. 'The wrong person gets injured, and very quickly you're into a scenario that I never want to have to contemplate, and that's trading No. 15 (Jokić). 'We're very conscious of that, pushing forward, providing the resources that we can when the moment arrives. But that second apron — is it a hard cap? I'm not 100 percent sure. But it's something that teams are very aware of.' The reaction to Kroenke's honesty was not kind. Jokić is the NBA's consensus best player. How could an owner, especially one with a reputation of not wanting to spend money, possibly mention even in passing the thought of trading the greatest star in the franchise's history just because of a lowly payroll milestone? Such penny-pinching should be only for the paupers! The answer is because the second apron — even if it does trigger extravagant tax payments — is not just about the extra dollars. Read more about the impact of the second apron in my free agency notes column. GO FURTHER NBA offseason themes to watch: Pacers' roster-building, second-apron fears and more The Trail Blazers parting ways with Deandre Ayton was long in the works. His two-year tenure in Portland was marred by tardiness, tantrums and injuries, which in part led to Portland using its last two first-round picks on centers. Apparently unable to unload his expiring $35.6 million salary, the Blazers are negotiating a contract buyout, according to league sources. In 95 games with Portland, Ayton averaged 15.7 points and 10.7 rebounds, but he was unreliable on and off the court. On the court, he was sometimes benched because of effort, which led to sideline and locker room tantrums, and off the court, he was fined multiple times for being tardy to practices. He also sometimes blew off rehabilitation appointments while recovering from knee and calf injuries. He was a loud and light personality in the locker room and seemed well-liked by his teammates, but it was clear the organization didn't view him as a building block for its rebuild. Last season, Portland used the No. 7 pick on center Donovan Clingan, and this season, the Blazers selected Chinese center Yang Hansen with the 16th pick. Coach Chauncey Billups on Friday said the 7-foot-2 Yang is so talented that he will, without question, play this season, even though he is only 20. The Blazers at center also have veteran Robert Williams III and Duop Reath. In the past two seasons, Williams has appeared in only 26 games because of knee injuries, and Reath averaged 4.2 points in 46 games. GO FURTHER NBA Draft surprise: China center Yang Hansen picked at No. 16, dealt to Blazers Alika Jenner / Getty Images The Deandre Ayton buyout news is shocking, if only because Portland loses out on the possibility of dangling a $35 million expiring contract in any trade talks during the season. Depending on the size of the the haircut in his buyout, it likely affords Portland the ability to use its entire nontaxpayer midlevel exception to bring in another guard or wing who can shoot. Minus Ayton, one presumes that Robert Williams (for the 28 or so games he's healthy) and 2024 lottery pick Donovan Clingan (for all the others) will man the center position, with 2025 first-rounder Hansen Yang in reserve. Page 2
