🏟️ Luka’s LA Era Has Officially Begun

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Welcome to this week’s edition of Sports Industry Weekly as we share insights from the top business headlines from across the sports industry.

Luka’s Los Angeles Era is Already Making Waves

It’s been nearly a month since the blockbuster Luka Dončić–Anthony Davis trade, and it still feels surreal for sports fans.

But for Los Angeles, the Lakers, and the entire sports industry, Luka’s arrival marks the beginning of a new superstar chapter—one that follows in the footsteps of Magic, Kobe, and LeBron.

In just a few short weeks, the impact of Luka in purple and gold is already undeniable:

🔥 Lakers Debut x Gatorade Collab – Luka’s first game with the Lakers was met with a new Gatorade campaign and a custom Luka Gx bottle celebrating his move to LA.

💰 Giving Back to LA – The Luka Dončić Foundation wasted no time, announcing a $500K donation to LA Wildlife Relief to support local communities.

👕 Arena Takeover – The Lakers welcomed Luka with team-wide warmup shirts and a full-arena t-shirt giveaway for fans at Crypto.com Arena.

📺 Must-See TV – His first game against the Mavericks drew 2.5 million viewers on TNT, the most-watched NBA game since opening night.

👟 Luka’s Sneaker Moment – Dončić debuted the Jordan Luka 4, with Jordan Brand launching a new social commercial and free parking courtesy of Luka.

📲 Social Media Boom – Luka’s Instagram has exploded, gaining 1 million followers since the trade. His social activity has also skyrocketed, with 8 posts since joining the Lakers—matching his total from the previous 4 months combined.

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🏎️ Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton is Lululemon's newest brand ambassador. The sportswear brand will support his training, recovery, and lifestyle needs with top products and collaborate on design innovation and global advocacy.

💰 James Harden donated over six figures as one of the few NBA players supporting NIL Collectives at their alma mater schools to help their programs compete in today’s evolving college basketball landscape.

🎊 A'ja Wilson and Jordan Chiles were two of the three global cover stars for TIME's 2025 Women of the Year list, celebrating trailblazers pushing for a more equal future.

🔟 The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports team in the world, as no NHL, F1, MLS, NWSL, WNBA, or global soccer teams made Sportico’s top 10 list.

🏈 XPAND announces its NIL partnership with the University of Colorado’s DJ McKinney, as the star DB provides young athletes with one-on-one mentoring, coaching, and behind-the-scenes content.

🏐 The Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) hosted its inaugural All-Star match at the sold-out Fishers Event Center in Indiana, drawing a crowd of 6,943 fans. The match was nationally broadcast on CBS, boosting the visibility of professional women's volleyball.

👔 NFL Hall of Famer and TV personality Michael Strahan just launched the Michael Strahan Design Lab—an online platform that allows men to personalize tailored suits.

💧 Gary Payton II becomes newest investor in Black-Owned water bottle brand SUPLMNT as he joins not only as a partner, but as an advocate for wellness, sustainability and black-owned innovation.

⚾️ Ahead of Spring Training, the New York Yankees announced they will allow players to have beards again, ending the franchise’s decades-long ban on facial hair.

📺 ESPN has made some broadcaster announcements, retaining Laura Rutledge with a multiyear deal to continue her hosting duties on NFL Live. Additionally, Richard Jefferson will call the NBA Finals for the first time, joining Mike Breen and Doris Burke on ESPN’s 2025 NBA Finals broadcasting team.

🏀 WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert aims to have 16 franchises by 2028, with Boston emerging as one of the leading candidates for an expansion team.

🏟️ Chicago approved a $7 billion redevelopment around the United Center for housing, retail, and entertainment over 10-15 years. The San Antonio Spurs are also planning a new arena costing over $1.5 billion.

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