The rumor mill went into overdrive when NBA standout Luka Doncic ranked the greatest NBA cities in order of fame.

The rising star for the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic, has never been afraid to speak his mind. 

Luka was put in the position in a video recently published by House of Highlights when he was asked to rank five legendary NBA towns. Is he ranked? At the top of the list was Miami, followed by LA, NYC, Chi-town, and finally Boston.

While this may seem like an innocuous pastime, in the ever-speculative world of NBA fandom, rankings like these may spark a firestorm of speculation. The locale of Miami and the Heat’s storied history quickly sparked rumors that Luka would be interested in joining the team. Similarly, Luka’s apparent affinity for the glitz and glamour brought by the Lakers and Clippers may explain why he ranks Los Angeles over other legendary basketball towns like New York and Chicago.

It’s possible that his choice of one city over another has nothing to do with his career decisions. But in this age of player autonomy, where superstars have proven they can shape (if not dictate) their own playing destinations, fans, and pundits will scrutinize such statements for clues as to a player’s future plans.

No matter how you take Luka’s rankings, it’s obvious that NBA followers are always on the lookout for any word on the league’s biggest names.

The NBA community reacts quickly to Luka Doncic’s list of preferred NBA cities.

The NBA is a beautiful league because of the fervor of its supporters and the skill of its players. This was made clear when Luka Doncic named his preferred NBA cities. Almost immediately, fans and internet users went to Reddit to praise or criticize his decisions.

Fans dissected Luka’s list word for word because of the trade possibilities and player preferences it implied. Cities whose residents learned that Luka, one of the league’s most promising young players, considered their city enticing, held celebrations. It was celebrated as a recognition of their devoted fan bases and the exciting environments they foster at games, rather than simply as a boon for the city’s aesthetics or nightlife.

Many people think the young celebrity is dropping hints about a possible move, and one fan’s prediction that “Miami edits about to be in full force” sums up the general feeling.

Another cheerleader chimed in, “Luka would be the GOAT with some culture in him,” while indicating one of Luka’s favorite places to visit. In the meantime, someone else asked, “Chat is this tampering,” seemingly challenging the NBA’s strict standards.

Four fans commented on the transaction, with one saying “Welcome Luka #damewho” to show that they had already forgotten about Damian Lillard.

For example, one pundit might say, “Bold to slot Miami in at one when you don’t know if Dallas is coming last,” implying that the player is brave for going against the wishes of his home fans.  ‘I’ve gone to Dallas and been to Miami… either way, he got it right,’ cried another.

The responses also spurred discussions regarding the things that are most important to gamers while traveling. Is it the climate, the sports teams, the people, or the party scene? The NBA cities all have their own identities, and their fans are quite proud of them, regardless of Luka’s criterion.

Luka Doncic Is Too Good For Dallas To Let Go.

Although the NBA is a business, there are some decisions that cannot be reduced to numbers and statistics since they affect a team’s core identity. A case in point would be if Dallas made the unimaginable decision to let Luka Doncic walk.

The ascent of Luka Doncic to NBA stardom has been spectacular. The Slovenian prodigy made a name for himself as one of the league’s top players right away. The Dallas Mavericks signed him right away because they saw his unmatched potential. They signed him to a stunning $215 million agreement in 2021, but the impact on their salary cap wasn’t seen until this past season. Still have four years left on this massive contract, which means Luka may become the first player ever to earn $80 million.

The prospect of trading Luka away is unthinkable for Mark Cuban, the Mavericks’ astute owner. They are familiar with the NBA industry and realize what a treasure they have in Doncic. Luka is a treasure trove of potential not only from a technical standpoint but also from a publicity and advertising one.

Mark Cuban and the Mavericks’ upper management have often demonstrated a flair for foresight. They know that Luka is going to be a celebrity for a long time to come. Dallas will compensate him well and do its best to surround him with talented players to help the team win titles. After all, in the high-pressure NBA, players with Doncic’s skill set are invaluable.