The Lakers (Minus LeBron) Celebrated The Luka Doncic Extension By Taking Him To See The Backstreet Boys At The Sphere In Vegas

Adam Pantozzi. Getty Images.

Last week, Luka Doncic put pen to paper and officially signed his 3/$165M extension to remain in LA and become the next face of the Lakers as they eventually transition to a post-LeBron world. While there may have been some uncertainty around Luka's future when he was initially traded and how pissed he seemed to be about it, the eventual outcome of him signing his extension (and a 2+1 at that) felt pretty inevitable given everything the team had done to built around Luka since the season ended. They could not have made it more clear that the Lakers were his team from here on out.

To celebrate such a monumental occasion in that franchise's history, perhaps you figured there was some sort of signing gift. Maybe a car, maybe a house, maybe under-the-table ownership shares. You know, normal rich people shit. Does Luka need it? No, but that's not the point. In some way, you figured the Lakers would show their appreciation for his decision to stay.

What did they do? Took him to Vegas to see the Backsteet Boys at the Sphere. Duh.

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Now, given the fact that I am a blue blood Lakers hater, you may expect me to clown the team for something like this. Sadly, I can't. What, I'm supposed to lie to you and suggest the Backstreet Boys aren't awesome? I'm supposed to sit here and try and convince you that the Sphere isn't cool as hell (as long as you accept how goddamn expensive it is)? I guess if you weren't from the era of the Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, 98 Degrees, LFO, Boyz II Men, B2K, O-Town, LMNT etc you don't get it, but for anyone that was growing up during that era in music, you know that at that time, boy bands were king. If you weren't getting your Boyz II Men CD that you got for Hanukkah taken away for weeks as punishment for being dogshit at math, you weren't living, man. 

So as much as I want to throw shade on the Lakers for this, I can't. It's a great move. It makes me want ot puke that Rob Pelinka is on this type of generational run, but it is what it is.

Instead, let's focus on the actual pictures. For starters, how about Luka basically looking like he could have been the 6th member of the Backsteet Boys? Was that Nick Carter or Luka Doncic? I'm not sure how that translates onto the basketball court, but I did find that noticeable. 

In looking at the Laker group you see Pelinka, JJ Redick, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, Luka, Vando, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, Jeanie Buss, and their new rookie Adou Thiero. You know who you don't see?

Justin Tafoya. Getty Images.

Giphy Images.

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The entire Lakers organization, from Jeanie Buss to the GM to the head coach to basically the entire roster is there celebrating Luka's extension….and LeBron (and Bronny) are nowhere to be found? Interesting. Last time we saw LeBron, he was on some yacht in France or some shit like Jokic's agent as they plan their new international basketball league, but you're telling me he can't hop on a G5 and get to LA/Vegas for such a big moment in the franchise's history? Of course he could. LeBron clearly chose not to, which is certainly hard to ignore. 

Given all the leaks about how he apparently hasn't been thrilled with the Lakers essentially tossing him to the side so they could play with their new shiny toy in Luka, everything we've seen from LeBron since the second he opted into his player option has told us that his time in LA is coming to an end. Why should he give a shit about this next era of the Lakers when it obviously does not involve him? A normal well adjusted person might see this as a nothingburger, but I would tell that person that they are simply not paying attention. Everything LeBron does and does not do is calculated. Nothing is ever by accident. I'm to believe that LeBron doesn't enjoy the Backstreet Boys? Liar. Of course he does. 

Instead, I guess he and Bronny were out on the links

Again, do you think the timing of this post is an accident?

Who knows, maybe LeBron is more of an N'Sync guy or something, but I do think it's pretty telling that the entire organization, for the most par,t was out celebrating Luka's new transition into officially becoming the next face of the franchise and the only guy that wasn't there just so happened to be the player that used to fill that role before the team decided they were going to replace him. I'm sure that's all just a coincidence!