After Sukwan Chae passed away in 2015 due to illness, a memorial was arranged in his honor. While everyone cried and grieved for the fallen Sukwan, Michael Jordan made his presence felt. Jordan Brand organised the event, but it was a surprise having MJ there in the flesh. That’s how Jordan built a relationship with thousands of employees with a simple gesture and Sukwan was one of them who left a major impact on Jordan Brand’s foothold in China. And now Luka Doncic is set to follow in the footsteps shown by Jordan.

No, he’s not going to China to grieve. Neither anyone told him, “It’s time to learn Chinese buddy.” There’s no way anyone would even dare say that to him after his smashing season with the Dallas Mavericks. The road to China will be due to his commitment to Jordan Brand rather than anything else.

According to EssentiallySports’ Grant Afseth, Doncic will be a part of a special event for the brand set to commence in China. “Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić will be among various Jordan Brand athletes who will participate in the company’s inaugural ‘China Family Tour’ this fall. Dončić’s line recently released the ‘Luka 3’ in continuation of his successful partnership with Jordan Brand,” Afseth wrote on his X handle.

During the fall, Jordan Brand will make the trip to China and alongside Doncic, there will be several big names from the league. Among the other Jordan Brand athletes are Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson and Paolo Banchero. This comes after Doncic opted not to join the Mavs training camp in LA. The Slovenian did not partake in the Olympics but is still in a resting period as his other teammates are gearing up for vital pre-season fixtures. But the intrigue around Doncic’s absense from the Dallas camp can also be attributed to the trade rumors linking him with the City’s big boys, the Lakers.

Luka Doncic to the Lakers, the biggest move in years?

When Kyrie Irving moved to the Nets, it was a blockbuster move. Or when Kevin Durant moved to the Bay Area. The most recent mega move was Klay Thompson’s deal with the Mavs. But all of this can easily be topped if Luka Doncic decides to move. And according to rumors that move could lead him to the Lakers.

“I’ve reported on this podcast and on The Ringer how they have their sights set for Luka [Doncic] in the future,” The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor said Friday during his The Mismatch podcast. The Lakers had less to no activity in the offseason and their cap situation is making things unlikely to make a big move. But the contingency plan for the post-LeBron era is already in motion.

Doncic is tied to a $215 million contract due to expire in 2025. If the Mavs choose to extend him, he is already eligible for a supermax $346,338,300 contract. To offer Doncic that sort of amount, the Lakers would need to make sufficient changes to their salary structure, which seems unlikely at the moment. Even after LeBron leaves, they must clear around $25 million off their books to accommodate Doncic. Will the lure of the Lakers be enough or will Doncic remain loyal to the Mavs? We’ll have to wait for the answer for another year at least.