Luka Doncic just achieved a feat that has never been done before. In a league like the NBA, which has had so many great players come before him, that will always be an impressive statement. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar really is that guy.
The NBA released their list of the top-selling NBA jerseys from the 2024-25 season. The Slovenian superstar was sitting above everyone at the top position.
Doncic, who was eighth on the list in late January, skyrocketed up from that previous spot. Whenever a player gets traded, a boost to the jersey sales is expected. However, there is something insightful to be observed from this situation.
Doncic makes history, positions himself to build on that success
Marc Stein pointed out that Doncic achieved two feats from leading the league in jersey sales. The generational talent was the first player to disrupt LeBron James' and Stephen Curry's two-man race for the top seller in a season. Doncic was also the first international player to lead the league.
Luka should be in a spot here to challenge a longstanding tradition in the NBA. This could be motion towards Doncic breaking the pattern of having the face of the league being an American-born player.
This is not the first time that the idea of Doncic being the next face of the league has been floated by this editorial. This historic achievement by the five-time All-NBA member just adds further momentum to that idea becoming a reality.
Los Angeles is obviously a massive market, by all definitions of the term. The media spotlight is huge and Doncic is the type of player to thrive in it and not shy away. With the game of basketball growing more and more globally, perhaps the time has finally come to have the league's first international superstar representing the NBA as the face of the place.
Doncic certainly has the excitement to his game that energizes both the arenas he plays in and the fans at home. There is also a natural underdog story to like about a player who is seeking redemption after foolishly being discarded by his former franchise. The NBA and its fans love a good narrative and there is certainly one to be found here.
The thing that can really cement Doncic's status as the man who takes the crown from his teammate, LeBron, would be a championship ring. If the Lakers give Luka a Hollywood-esque finish to the 2024-25 NBA season, the passing of the torch could happen as soon as June.
