While JJ Redick is discovered muttering to himself out of excitement, Luka Doncic takes over Los Angeles.

Los Angeles, a city known for its bright lights, extravagant lifestyles, and larger-than-life personalities, has always been the playground for basketball’s biggest stars. For decades, players like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal have personified the Lakers’ ethos of dominance. Across town, the Los Angeles Clippers have grown in stature, becoming a formidable force under the steady leadership of players like Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and now, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Yet, in the fall of 2023, something unusual happened. A shift, a subtle change in the balance of power in the City of Angels. It wasn’t a trade. It wasn’t a draft. It wasn’t a free-agent signing. It was, quite simply, Luka Dončić.

The Spark of Excitement

It all started on an early October morning, a moment almost serendipitous in its simplicity. JJ Redick, former NBA sharpshooter, podcaster, and ESPN analyst, was spotted by several colleagues muttering to himself while preparing for an interview. No, he wasn’t rehearsing questions or reflecting on the depth of his analysis—he was talking basketball, and more specifically, he was talking about Luka Dončić’s potential to take over Los Angeles.

“I can’t believe it,” Redick said under his breath, pausing as he shuffled through notes for his next podcast episode. “He’s not just a star—he’s a damn phenomenon. The way he’s playing, the way he’s evolving… it’s gonna happen sooner than we think. He’s taking over LA. And I’m here for it.”

Redick’s words, though casual, had a prophetic air about them. His excitement was palpable, as if he could sense something in the air, something that no one else had fully grasped yet. As an insider to the NBA, Redick had a deep understanding of what made players tick and what could propel them into the upper echelons of superstardom. Luka Dončić, at this moment in time, was poised for something historic.

Luka’s Arrival in LA

While Redick’s words were filled with conviction, it wasn’t long before the city of Los Angeles began to feel the full weight of what he had predicted. Dončić had already been a star in the NBA for several years, but his arrival in LA, playing against the Lakers and Clippers in the 2023-2024 season, would serve as a signal—a seismic shift in the city’s basketball culture.

For years, Los Angeles had been a Lakers city, with the purple and gold dominating the basketball landscape both on and off the court. However, the Clippers, in the twilight years of the 2020s, had found a foothold as serious contenders. With the emergence of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers finally seemed poised to challenge the Lakers for the city’s basketball supremacy.

But Luka Dončić was not interested in playing the role of a supporting cast member in someone else’s story. He had already made his mark in Dallas, leading the Mavericks with unrivaled skill and determination. He was a phenomenon, with uncanny court vision, a deadly step-back three, and an insatiable competitive fire that made him one of the most entertaining players in the league. It was only a matter of time before he turned his attention to Los Angeles.

In the 2023-2024 season, Dončić’s Mavericks came to town with an aura of inevitability surrounding them. By now, he had become a fixture in MVP discussions and was on a quest to prove that he was the future of the NBA. His game against the Lakers and Clippers that November was nothing short of spectacular.

In a game that would go down as one of the most memorable of the season, Dončić put on a show in front of a packed Crypto.com Arena, the home of both the Lakers and the Clippers. His stat line was staggering—35 points, 14 assists, 11 rebounds, and a game-winning step-back three with just seconds left on the clock against the Clippers. The crowd erupted, and Dončić, ever the showman, merely flashed a smile as he walked off the court. The message was clear: Luka was here, and Los Angeles was his to take.

The Changing of the Guard

The reaction in Los Angeles was swift and overwhelming. A city known for its celebrities and its love of basketball began to shift its allegiances. Lakers fans, traditionally loyal to their team, found themselves captivated by Luka’s brilliance. The Clippers, long the underdog in LA, were now in the position of having to fight for attention as Luka’s star rose even higher.

While LeBron James was still playing at an elite level, entering his 22nd season, it was becoming apparent that the baton was being passed. LeBron was in the twilight of his career, and his focus had shifted toward building his empire off the court. His days of taking over games on a regular basis were starting to feel more like a distant memory. But Luka, still only 24 years old, seemed destined to carry the mantle of NBA dominance. And if the NBA belonged to anyone in Los Angeles, it was Dončić now.

The Clippers, too, saw Luka as a threat. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, while elite players, had struggled with injuries over the years and failed to achieve the ultimate prize—an NBA championship. Luka’s effortless control of the game and his ability to dominate in clutch moments made him a formidable opponent for any team in the NBA, let alone one in his own city.

The media began to take notice. Sports talk shows, blogs, and podcasts buzzed about the “changing of the guard” in LA. Discussions turned from whether the Lakers could capture another title with LeBron to whether Dončić’s Mavericks were the new team to beat in the Western Conference. Even the most dedicated Lakers fans began to wonder—what if the future of basketball in Los Angeles didn’t lie with their beloved team but instead with the young, brash superstar from Slovenia?

Luka’s style of play was a perfect fit for the city. His swagger, his confidence, and his flair for the dramatic resonated with Los Angeles’ celebrity-driven culture. He was everything LA loved: talented, charismatic, and a walking highlight reel. Luka didn’t just play basketball—he made it look effortless, smooth, and exciting. The contrast to the Lakers’ more methodical style, led by LeBron, was striking. Dončić wasn’t just a player; he was an artist, painting masterpieces on the hardwood with his no-look passes, incredible footwork, and the kind of basketball IQ that only a select few possess.

The Impact Beyond the Court

But Luka’s influence wasn’t just felt in the games he played. It stretched beyond the basketball arena, into the realm of pop culture, marketing, and business. In a city that thrives on its A-list celebrities, Luka quickly became one of the most sought-after athletes for endorsements and media appearances. His presence in commercials, on billboards, and at high-profile events skyrocketed.

The energy surrounding Luka also started to reverberate in the business side of the NBA. Corporate sponsors, who had long aligned themselves with the Lakers’ glitz and glamour, began to shift their focus toward Luka. Whether it was his partnership with Nike or his growing social media following, Dončić was becoming the face of a new era in basketball—not just in Los Angeles, but globally.

A New Era of Basketball in Los Angeles

As the 2024 season wore on, Dončić’s dominance only grew. He continued to dismantle defenses, put on jaw-dropping performances, and lead the Mavericks to the top of the Western Conference standings. The rumors of a potential MVP season for Luka gained traction, and his status as one of the league’s most electrifying players was cemented.

Meanwhile, the Lakers struggled to find a consistent rhythm. Injuries to key players, including Anthony Davis, and the steady aging of LeBron James led to an inconsistent season. The Clippers, despite having one of the deepest rosters in the league, couldn’t seem to put it all together either. Luka’s Mavericks, on the other hand, seemed to be clicking on all cylinders.

Dončić’s arrival in Los Angeles was more than just a basketball takeover. It was the beginning of a new chapter—one that marked the shifting of the guard, not just in Los Angeles but in the entire NBA. With Luka at the helm, the Mavericks became a legitimate championship contender, and the City of Angels, once dominated by LeBron and the Lakers, began to take notice.

As the season progressed, the idea of a “changing of the guard” in Los Angeles became less of a theory and more of a reality. Dončić had indeed arrived. JJ Redick had called it: Luka was taking over LA, and the city was ready for it.

The question now was not if he would take over—but when he would bring a championship to the city he had captivated so completely.