Doncic extension - Answering the biggest Luka-Lakers questions - ESPN

When Luka Doncic announced his arrival in New York City this past Sunday, his mere presence stateside signaled a momentous week ahead. It was the first time since he entered the NBA that the superstar had abandoned his summer break in Europe to return to the U.S. before training camp, a source close to Doncic told ESPN.

The trip was presented as a promotional tour for the Jordan Brand signature athlete. Doncic started off by visiting Yankee Stadium to hang with fellow Jordan pitchman, Aaron Judge, and then headed west: first to MJ's old stomping grounds in Chicago before finishing in Los Angeles.

What it became was a cross-country runway strut to show off the 26-year-old's trimmed physique and an announcement that L.A. will be more than just a temporary home after the five-time All-Star's shocking trade from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers on Feb. 1.

Doncic intends to sign a three-year, $165 million contract extension in person with the Lakers on Saturday, the first day the franchise was eligible to offer him one, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. The third year will be a player option, sources said.

Three months after Doncic's first postseason appearance in L.A. was cut short, with the No. 3-seeded Lakers losing to the No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in five games, Doncic's dietary discipline — and bold body transformation captured on the cover of Men's Health — was a statement by itself. It showed Doncic was heeding the directive he laid out during his last news conference of the season after the first-round exit.

«Everybody's got to get better,» Doncic said then. «We're going to have a long summer. And should focus on what we can improve as a team and as individuals. Everybody.»

As it turns out, he was