Luka Doncic didn’t leave much room for debate when he was asked to build a dream two-on-two partner during a rapid-fire promo with AirDom Basketball Store. Again and again, the answer was the same: Nikola Jokic.
The Lakers star was put through a string of superstar matchups and kept siding with the Denver Nuggets center over some of the biggest names in basketball. Jokic over Victor Wembanyama.
Jokic over Kevin Durant. Jokic over Shaquille O’Neal.
Jokic over Magic Johnson. Jokic over Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jokic over LeBron James.
When the choices shifted, Doncic finally moved off Jokic and went with Larry Bird. From there, he picked Michael Jordan over Bird.
The exchange made one thing obvious: Doncic has a clear favorite when it comes to a two-man game. And it’s Jokic, not the current Lakers teammate who may have been his most talented running mate so far.
That makes sense on the floor. Jokic brings a massive offensive toolkit and enough versatility to cover for defensive limitations. In a pickup setting, that kind of all-around skill is hard to beat.
The Denver star also had the kind of season that keeps him in the center of these conversations. He finished second in MVP voting behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander last season, but his numbers made the case loud and clear: 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.7 assists, while shooting 56.9% from the field and 38.0% from three-point range.
Doncic’s choice also fits the relationship between the two. The pair are known to have a close bond, with ongoing banter that has made the idea of them teaming up a recurring topic. That possibility has been floated before, even if the current situation does not make it likely.
Still, the part that will get the most attention is Doncic passing on James. The two were teammates for less than two full seasons, but that was enough time to imagine real success together. Given that history, James would have been the obvious pick for many.
Instead, Doncic’s answer landed differently, especially with James announcing his decision to leave the Lakers this offseason. Whether intentional or not, skipping over him in a quick-hit question is the kind of moment people will read into.
For now, though, the Lakers belong to Doncic. With the team committing its resources to building around the 26-year-old, the next chapter in Los Angeles is his to shape.
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For Lakers fans, it is mostly administrative. For anyone around the Luka Doni orbit, it is the kind of small transaction that gets noticed because of the names attached to it, especially with Dudley having moved on from the Lakers and into coaching after his retirement. The list also included a handful of other familiar veterans, a reminder that teams sometimes spend as much time untangling old rights as they do chasing the next move. [Read more 🡒]