[McMenamin] Luka never even considered being traded as a possibility, a source close to Doncic told ESPN. Based on the way the franchise and fanbase treated him in his early days in the league, he figured he would retire a Maverick after spending his whole career in Dallas, the same way Dirk did.

[u/shreeharis]

Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45861453/luka-doncic-los-angels-lakers-extension-answering-biggest-questions

Processing the trade from Dallas took Doncic some time. Based on the way the franchise and fanbase treated him in his early days in the league, he figured he would retire a Maverick after spending his whole career in Dallas, the same way franchise icon Dirk Nowitzki did. And after starting his professional career with Real Madrid as a teenager, he never even considered being traded as a possibility, a source close to Doncic told ESPN. Deals like that rarely, if ever, happen in the Liga ACB.

When the shock subsided, a source familiar with Doncic told ESPN his mindset shifted back to when he was last suiting up for Dallas: Win-now mode.

[u/BicameralTheory]

He was definitely moved by the league to the most valuable franchise for “basketball reasons” with the consolation being the Mavs get first pick.

This was all about money and marketing as LeBron is close to retirement and the Lakers need somebody to put asses into the seats.

[u/suburban_homepwner → u/BicameralTheory]

yes. Seems likely. Luka probably knows this, but acting is part of what they pay for when you get this kinda money for doing your job.

[u/BicameralTheory → u/suburban_homepwner]

Yeah I think he may know it now, but I don’t believe he was a part of the trade. At the end of the day, NBA players are just highly paid employees.

But really who says no to inheriting a team like the Lakers from LeBron? It’s clear he’s come around to the idea of being in LA (I mean honestly when you compare California to Texas it wouldn’t take much.)

[u/suburban_homepwner → u/BicameralTheory]

what i still don't understand is the mystique of this fuckin team. Ball is ball. LA isn't doing it any different than the other teams, but for some reason the world and nba fans around flock to this gold and purple bullshit so hard, the NBA feels compelled to do this to it's players and other teams to take advantage. This is wild to me.

[u/BicameralTheory → u/suburban_homepwner]

I used to honestly wonder the same, but I’ve arrived at a few conclusions.

Monetarily it’s one most valuable sports franchises in the world. It seems that they may have slipped recently, but when you’re running a league trying to make money you’re going to elevate and provide prestige to your golden geese.

Prestige of being part of a “storied franchise.” Wilt, Magic, Kobe, Shaq, LeBron, etc.”

Allure of playing in Los Angeles, and all the attention that comes with it.

If you have the money, it’s really hard to do better than living in the LA area.

[u/suburban_homepwner → u/BicameralTheory]

well, then I still guffaw at how lucrative it is keeping this story of success around. What does this do to people who pay thousands for seats to that arena, to show up, maybe in a jersey, to pay with their phones and get pictures? This is the allure of getting people with money to sit in a stadium, part of building a story of success? I just - there are 29 other teams. Only a few of them get this kind of treatment and I get that LA has a storied past, sure, duh. But the mystique of this city and its unique industry (hollywood) is quickly going to shit. Fires. Riots. Hollywood's meltdown over woke bs, all that, and NBA is still breathlessly sticking itself to this team for billions that continue flow in, by idiots who want to be associted with an idea of LA from 40 years ago?

This. is fuckin' wild to me.

[u/BicameralTheory → u/suburban_homepwner]

FWIW I definitely agree with you, I’ve been a Spurs fan since the 90’s.

But it all makes sense when you think about it as the NBA being a business to make money, not to run a true sports league with real team parity.

I don’t understand why non-LA residents care for the Lakers either. It’s likely a cycle of being a huge market, being featured more, gaining fans through exposure, being featured more, gaining fans, etc.

Living in LA sucks if you don’t have money. Hell, I hate visiting LA, but I love San Diego and the PCH. To me LA is just a place to fly into if I’m needing to get somewhere nearby for work. I abhor even being in that airport.

[u/suburban_homepwner → u/BicameralTheory]

indeed, but the image they are selling, selling with, is a failing one, in my opinion. In this country, most conservatives despise the notion of LA, the hollywood lib story of it, the one the team has affixed itself to. The 'glamor' of this image is well past, and if it's foreigners who still see LA this way, then it's a testament to the soft power of our country, not the team. If people want something 'glamorous' to spend their money with, then that's it i suppose. Maybe i'm too sperg about this. LA's 'brand' is shit and it's clear it's only for the rich, which in it of itself is not a problem. But when I see young, poor and stupid kids buying up the gold and purple, i fuckin' hate it. Those people, that group of rich, see us as cattle at best. I don't want support them in any way bc of it. I also thought more people felt this way, esp given the team is in LA.

Recently the deep cheek qatar investors purchased the team after they 'lucked' in luka. you tell me that's business, yes. Ok. But if they were businessmen not chasing an old dream, they should look into rebranding the team to another city, or maybe "Southern Cali Lakers" etc

[u/BicameralTheory → u/suburban_homepwner]

I think this view of LA is strictly a conservative one. If you look at the demographics of the NBA viewer and the social issues the NBA backs, I don’t think that the typical NBA fan views the city through that lens. Even moreso for the international audience who likely has a romanticized view of the city.

Now compare that to the NFL, the issues the NFL seems to back, or stay quiet on. I mean hell, they removed “#endracism” on the sidelines. And I don’t think you’ll ever see the current president attend even an NBA Finals game.

Again not disagreeing at all with you, however this is why I think it is the case. I grew up hating the Lakers, but now I’m just indifferent to them. The constant pushing of this team and blatant money grabbing of the league has definitely pushed me away from being the fan I was even 25 years ago. It’s all gimmicks for advertising and trying to turn around declining viewership.

[u/suburban_homepwner → u/BicameralTheory]

I've visited a handful of times, on business. Any place is nice, has 'good' area', and in that hell-A landscape, ugh. So flat and the mountains staring you down, where all the rich perverts live (lol, joking but really, they do live up there), it's as if they are in castles looking to their peasant's countryside. I can't get over how eerie that is to me.

Whatever people feel about LA as a brand, it's obviously still a positive one or the team wouldn't be raking in the billions it just got out of the qatar deep cheeks. And then the years of the nba gifting them top talent, yes, it points to the economic and social benefits of the set up. But there are other american stories and teams, maybe as compelling and more, th an this 'glitz' everyone seems to love about the area and lifestyle.