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Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is back in the United States, although it likely won't be for long.
Doncic, who will soon become eligible to sign a massive, long-term contract extension with the Lakers, posted on Instagram, seemingly indicating he is back in the States after time in Europe following a disappointing first-round playoff exit.
“Via his Instagram account, Luka Dončić confirms he has arrived in New York to begin his Jordan Brand promotional tour for his signature sneaker line,” NBA insider Marc Stein posted on X, formerly Twitter, along with a screenshot of Doncic's IG Story which shows a person in a suit holding a chauffeur sign that says Luka and has the Jordan Jumpman logo.
Via his Instagram account, Luka Dončić confirms he has arrived in New York to begin his Jordan Brand promotional tour for his signature sneaker line: https://t.co/Hq7EzmURLt pic.twitter.com/xkCAEC9O9u
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 27, 2025
Last offseason, Doncic, along with other NBA stars, went on a promotional tour of China for Jordan, during which Doncic walked on the Great Wall of China. At the time, he was still a member of the Dallas Mavericks, and now, he appears to be a rather content member of the Lakers. Despite that, Doncic is not expected to re-sign with the Lakers until after the conclusion of EuroBasket, which runs from late August to mid-September across four countries.
Doncic was shockingly traded by the Mavericks to L.A. in February, ending a successful, nearly seven-year stint with the franchise, which reached the Western Conference Finals in 2022 and the NBA Finals in 2024, both with Doncic at the helm, leading the way.
Upon his arrival in Los Angeles, Doncic initially struggled but soon found a groove and helped the Lakers fly down the stretch of the regular season, earning the third seed in the notoriously deep and tough Western Conference. But in the postseason, without an experienced big man and with Doncic hobbled and ill, the Lakers were smashed by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. A year earlier, Doncic and the Mavericks had beaten Minnesota in five in the conference finals.
This offseason, while one of the longer ones Doncic has been able to enjoy during his NBA career, has not been without drama. In particular, Doncic's Lakers co-star LeBron James has been in the news consistently after his agent, Rich Paul, indicated James could ask for a trade. Media reports subsequently surfaced that detailed James' alleged annoyance at the Lakers' preference for and actions in support of Doncic.
Additionally, Dorian Finney-Smith, a close friend of Doncic who he played with for years in Dallas and this past season with the Lakers, signed with the Houston Rockets. The Lakers had acquired Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets in December and had hopes to re-sign the wing.
