Hollywood officially belongs to Luka Doncic. The superstar point guard will be signing a new max contract to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers for the long haul. This is a great time to remind everyone that the Dallas Mavericks were never willing to do that.
Think back to the time when jaws were on the floor everywhere following the blockbuster deal that brought Doncic to Los Angeles. Now skip ahead a few weeks to when The Athletic revealed some equally eye-popping information hinting at why Luka was traded away.
Doncic was called fat and undisciplined. That was something that was clearly taken personally as the Slovenian superstar transformed his body. It was also among the reasons Nico Harrison and the Mavericks front office were unwilling to commit financially to a top five player in the NBA.
The Athletic reported, "Had he remained in Dallas, Doncic would have been eligible to sign a five-year, $345 million contract. ... But there was one twist: The Mavericks were never going to offer Doncic that mega-deal, league sources said."
Lakers had no qualms about committing to Doncic contract extension
That same report from The Athletic revealed that Harrison and company had growing concerns about Doncic's body breaking down 'possibly sooner than anyone would suspect.' Less than a calendar year into the future, that sentiment sounds even sillier than it did at the time.
Whether it was JJ Redick's blunt words after the playoff exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a need for revenge, or something that would have happened regardless of the trade, Doncic is certainly in great shape. Luka gets to enjoy a shiny new contract as a bonus.
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 making.https://t.co/aB19DY7rrL pic.twitter.com/bjVsf1ampI
— Men's Health Mag (@MensHealthMag) July 28, 2025
Upon his arrival, the Lakers were immediately on board with making Doncic the central figurehead of their franchise. Why wouldn't they be?
Doncic came to Los Angeles as one of the best players on the planet. The five-time All-NBA member was an MVP finalist in the previous season leading up to his shocking relocation.
The Lakers, whose future after LeBron James looked bleak, had an immediate out to their troubles. They were even readily willing to satisfy a roster need for Doncic right off the bat. Although, the less said about how that fiasco ultimately ended, the better.
Regardless of the result, it was clear the Lakers were committed. Now, so is Doncic. The Mavericks can only watch from a distance as a rain drop somberly rolls down their window.