The New Deal for Luka Doncic

Luka Dončić is a Slovenian professional basketball player born on February 28, 1999, in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He began his basketball career at a young age, joining the Real Madrid youth academy in 2012. Dončić quickly rose through the ranks, making his senior team debut for Real Madrid in 2015 as the youngest player in the club's history. Over six years with Real Madrid, he played 216 matches and won seven titles, including the EuroLeague championship in 2018. That season, he earned the EuroLeague MVP, Final Four MVP, and ACB League MVP honors, a rare achievement marking him as the best player in Europe at 19 years old[1]. In 2018, Dončić declared for the NBA Draft and was selected third overall by the Atlanta Hawks but was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He made an immediate impact in the NBA, averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6 assists in his rookie season (2018–19). His performance earned him near-unanimous Rookie of the Year honors, receiving 98 of 100 first-place votes. Known for his versatile skill set and basketball IQ, he has been compared to all-time greats like LeBron James and Magic Johnson for his ability to influence the game across multiple facets[2]. As of 2025, Luka Dončić is playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, wearing jersey number 77 and standing 6 feet 8 inches tall. He remains a prominent figure in the NBA due to his scoring ability, playmaking, and leadership on the court. Recent highlights include a notable 43-point performance despite his team’s loss to the Golden State Warriors, underscoring his ongoing relevance and impact in professional basketball[4].

Kristaps Porziņģis is a Latvian professional basketball player born in Liepāja, Latvia, known for his 7-foot-3 frame, shot-blocking ability, and three-point shooting as a center/power forward in the NBA.[1][2] He began his career in youth basketball with BK Liepājas Lauvas before joining Sevilla's junior team in Spain in 2012, where he averaged 16.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game in his second year, earning ACB All-Young Players Team honors and the EuroCup Rising Star award as the youngest recipient.[1][5] Drafted fourth overall by the New York Knicks in 2015—the highest ever for a Latvian or Baltic player—Porziņģis overcame initial fan boos with a strong rookie season, averaging 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds across 72 starts, earning NBA All-Rookie Team honors and finishing as Rookie of the Year runner-up.[1][2][3] Injuries sidelined him in 2018-19, but he signed a five-year, $158 million max deal with the Dallas Mavericks in 2019, posting 19.2 points and 9.5 rebounds in his first 51 games before the COVID-19 suspension.[2] Traded to the Washington Wizards in 2021, he averaged career highs including 35 points against Orlando and was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week in January 2023.[1] In June 2023, Porziņģis joined the Boston Celtics via sign-and-trade, debuting with a franchise-record 30 points in a win over the Knicks.[1] He won an NBA championship with Boston in his first season, though limited to 99 regular-season games over two years due to injuries.[5] As of early 2026, Porziņģis plays for the Atlanta Hawks, bringing veteran scoring and defense to their frontcourt amid ongoing Southeast Division contention.[6] His career highlights resilience through trades, injuries, and international representation for Latvia.[1][4]