The wrong person gets injured and very quickly you’re into a scenario that I never want to have to contemplate—and that’s trade number 15. Josh Kroenke had said they’d never do it, but now it’s official: Nikola Jokic is heading to the Lakers. If you were paying attention, the signs were there all along.

First came that viral Instagram photo of Jokic’s agent and LeBron, captioned: “The summer of 2025 is a perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026.” Turns out, those big plans were about Jokic to LA the whole time. Then came LeBron’s subtle hint: “I know how great Joker is. Certain guys in this league play the game a certain way, the same way I like to play—and he’s one of them.”

Now it’s real. Jokic, LeBron, and Luka on the same team. The league just changed forever. Let’s break down how we got here—because the whole thing is insane.

The Yacht Meeting That Started It All

It began with what seemed like an innocent Instagram post. Miško Ražnatović, Nikola Jokic’s longtime agent and one of the most powerful figures in European basketball, posted a photo of himself with LeBron James and Maverick Carter (LeBron’s business partner and CEO of SpringHill Company) on a yacht. But it wasn’t just the photo—it was the caption: “The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026.”

Basketball fans, analysts, and insiders immediately latched onto the timing. 2026 is when LeBron could become a free agent, and Jokic also has a potential opt-out in 2027. People quickly began speculating: was this a recruitment meeting?

Ražnatović isn’t just any agent. He’s a Serbian powerhouse who founded BeoBasket Agency, representing Jokic and many other top European players, including Luka Dončić. He bridges European basketball and the NBA in ways few others can. Given his relationships with both Jokic and Luka, the photo sent shockwaves.

Soon, major outlets like ESPN and Sports Illustrated began analyzing whether this was a legitimate signal of a superteam brewing. Some even speculated about a new $5B international league Maverick Carter had been tied to—but the NBA-focused theories took center stage.

There were two major interpretations: either LeBron was joining Jokic in Denver to chase one last ring, or Jokic was being recruited to join LeBron and Luka in LA. The latter seemed increasingly likely. The Lakers had been preserving cap space, making few moves in the 2025 offseason, which insiders interpreted as preparing for something big.

Meanwhile, Jokic’s comments about trades were reanalyzed. When asked about the deadline, he replied: “You can get traded. Be professional. It’s a business. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad player or a good player. Maybe the team wants to change energy or style.” What once sounded like generic wisdom now seemed like openness to change.

Jokic, Luka, and LeBron: A Basketball Supernova

From a basketball perspective, this trio is terrifying. Jokic is arguably the best center in the NBA—averaging nearly 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists per game. But stats don’t capture what makes him special. He’s a 7-foot point guard who sees plays before they happen and elevates everyone around him.

LeBron, even at 40, is still one of the smartest and most versatile players alive. His respect for Jokic is deep and public. Luka, meanwhile, is already rewriting offensive record books at just 26 years old.

Together, these three can all initiate offense, score at elite levels, and create for others. Defensive weaknesses? Sure, none are known for elite defense, but their collective IQ could more than compensate.

The basketball fit is historically unprecedented. Jokic’s high-post playmaking with Luka’s pick-and-roll dominance and LeBron’s leadership creates a trio that’s unguardable. They’d break defensive schemes and bend the game in their favor. A 70-win season wouldn’t be out of reach.

The only issue? Money.

The Financial Reality and the Nuggets’ Dilemma

Assembling this team was never going to be simple. The Lakers have limited draft capital—just one unprotected first-rounder in 2031—and are dealing with the new CBA’s punitive luxury tax rules. However, they’ve been strategically keeping cap flexibility for 2027, when Jokic can opt out.

The Nuggets, on the other hand, are facing a growing crisis. After two back-to-back Game 7 exits in the Western Conference semifinals, they shocked everyone by firing both head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth—the same people who built the 2023 title-winning roster.

Then came the press conference that changed everything.

On June 24, 2025, Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke, unprompted, said: “With our injury history, the wrong person gets injured, and very quickly you’re into a scenario where—that I never want to contemplate—and that’s trade number 15.” Number 15 being Jokic’s jersey number.

Nobody had asked about trading Jokic. Kroenke brought it up out of nowhere. Damage control came fast. ESPN’s Shams Charania and Nuggets exec Ben Tenzer immediately said the team would never trade Jokic. But the seed of doubt had been planted.

Combine that with Denver’s lack of offseason moves, financial constraints, and a frustrated fanbase—and suddenly, a Jokic trade doesn’t sound so impossible.

What This All Means for the NBA

A team with Jokic, Luka, and LeBron isn’t just a basketball powerhouse—it’s a global marketing machine. Two European superstars in LA? The NBA’s international appeal would skyrocket. A lineup like this could change how the league brands itself, attracting massive TV ratings, new sponsorships, and a global fan base beyond what we’ve seen.

It would also redefine player empowerment and team building. This wasn’t done through flashy pressers or media leaks. This was quiet, strategic, long-term planning—planting seeds through friendships, agents, and financial flexibility.

Some skeptics say this is all overblown, that it’s all based on one photo. But that misses the point. The Lakers are clearly preparing for 2027. Jokic’s contract gives him an out. Luka is already in LA. LeBron is still a power broker. And the relationships—between agent, players, and organization—run deep.

This could be the most sophisticated recruitment effort in NBA history.