**BREAKING NEWS: Luka Dončić Officially Announces Retirement from NBA to Pursue Dream Career in Long Tennis**
In a shocking and unprecedented move that has sent waves through the sports world, **Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Dončić** has officially announced his **retirement from the NBA**—not due to injury, scandal, or burnout, but to pursue what he calls his **”first and truest love”: long tennis.**
At just 26 years old, Dončić walks away from a Hall-of-Fame-caliber basketball career to chase a lifelong dream of becoming a professional tennis player. His decision, made public earlier this morning via a live-streamed press conference in his native Slovenia, stunned fans, teammates, and fellow athletes alike.
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### “Basketball Was My Career. Tennis Is My Dream.”
Dressed in a navy blazer and white tennis polo, Dončić appeared calm, collected, and fully at peace with his choice.
> **”Basketball has given me everything,”** he said. **”But tennis has always been in my heart. Before I picked up a basketball, I was swinging a racquet in my grandfather’s backyard. This isn’t a farewell to competition—it’s a new beginning.”**
Dončić revealed that the decision wasn’t spontaneous. Over the last three years, particularly during the NBA offseasons, he’d been quietly training in Europe with elite tennis coaches. His growing passion for the sport intensified during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he was seen attending tennis matches and even practicing with ATP professionals behind closed doors.
Sources close to Dončić say that after the Mavericks’ 2024–25 playoff exit, he informed team owner **Mark Cuban** and general manager **Nico Harrison** of his desire to step away.
> **“We tried to talk him out of it,”** Cuban said in a statement. **“But Luka has always followed his heart. We support him 100 percent—even if it breaks ours.”**
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### A Stellar NBA Career Comes to a Stunning Halt
Since entering the league in 2018, Luka Dončić has been a generational talent. A four-time All-NBA First Team selection, six-time All-Star, and 2023–24 NBA MVP runner-up, Dončić compiled career averages of **27.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game**. He led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2023, falling just short against the Boston Celtics in a thrilling seven-game series.
Known for his basketball IQ, creative passing, and fearless shot-making, Dončić had already climbed into the pantheon of all-time greats by his mid-20s. Many believed he was on track to become the face of the league in the post-LeBron era.
> **“Luka retiring at 26 is like Beethoven putting down the piano at his peak to become a violinist,”** said ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. **“It’s wild. It’s unthinkable. But it’s also… kind of Luka.”**
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### Why Long Tennis?
Dončić explained that long tennis—a variant of traditional tennis played on a longer, extended court with an emphasis on endurance and fluid motion—offered the physical and mental challenges he’s been craving.
> **“It’s pure,”** he said. **“It’s one-on-one. You can’t pass. You can’t hide behind a screen. It’s just you, your mind, your skill, and your will.”**
Though relatively obscure globally, long tennis has gained cult popularity in parts of Eastern Europe and Latin America. Dončić’s decision is expected to put the sport on the international map almost overnight.
Slovenian Long Tennis Federation President **Gregor Zupan** announced that Dončić has already registered to compete in the **2025 Long Tennis World Tour**, beginning with a match in Belgrade next month.
> **“Luka is the biggest athlete ever to play this sport,”** Zupan said. **“This is our Tiger Woods moment. Our Messi. Our Serena.”**
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### Reaction From the Basketball World
Reactions to Dončić’s decision have ranged from shock to admiration.
* **LeBron James**: *“Much love and respect to my young king. Follow your heart. Legacy’s already secured.”*
* **Kevin Durant**: *“Tennis?? Wow. Luka been different. Go crazy bro.”*
* **Stephen Curry**: *“Still can’t believe it. But if anyone can make the impossible seem logical, it’s Luka.”*
Former Mavericks teammate **Kyrie Irving** posted a cryptic Instagram Story featuring a tennis emoji, a goat emoji, and the phrase: *“Woke in all forms.”*
Mavericks head coach **Jason Kidd** was more somber.
> **“I coached Luka for years. He wasn’t just a player—he was a phenom. I still can’t wrap my head around it. But I admire the courage.”**
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### The Future of the Mavericks and the NBA
Dončić’s departure leaves a gaping hole in the Mavericks organization. His contract—worth over \$220 million through 2029—will be voided under the league’s voluntary retirement clause. Dallas now faces a massive rebuild, with Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, and Josh Green expected to take on larger roles.
NBA Commissioner **Adam Silver** released a statement shortly after Dončić’s announcement:
> **“Luka Dončić’s contributions to the NBA have been extraordinary. While we are saddened to see him step away, we honor his decision to chase his passion. He will always be part of the NBA family.”**
League insiders speculate that the Mavericks will likely receive salary cap exemptions and additional draft compensation from the league in the wake of Dončić’s unexpected retirement.
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### Will He Return?
Dončić was asked directly whether this move was permanent or if a return to basketball was possible.
> **“Never say never,”** he said, smiling. **“But right now, I’m not thinking about basketball. I’ve climbed that mountain. Now, I want to see what’s on the other side.”**
Some close to the star believe he’s simply seeking a new challenge and may return to the NBA in a few years, refreshed and reinvigorated. Others believe this is a permanent shift.
Sports psychologist **Dr. Helena Kravs** weighed in:
> “Luka has always been wired differently—more introspective, less enamored with fame. It doesn’t surprise me that he’d leave the peak of one profession to chase fulfillment elsewhere.”
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### Final Goodbye—or New Beginning?
As the press conference concluded, Dončić paused for a long moment before delivering one final message to the fans who had supported him since his days at Real Madrid.
> **“Thank you to everyone who believed in me. I hope you’ll follow me on this new path. This isn’t goodbye—just game, set, match.”**
The room stood and applauded. A legend had left one stage—and walked boldly onto another.
Whether Luka Dončić will become a champion in long tennis remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: he’s playing life on his terms.
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**Luka Dončić Career NBA Stats:**
* **Games Played**: 547
* **Points per Game**: 27.8
* **Rebounds per Game**: 8.6
* **Assists per Game**: 8.2
* **All-Star Selections**: 6
* **All-NBA First Team**: 4
* **Playoff Appearances**: 5
* **Finals Appearance**: 2023
* **Legacy**: Unforgettable
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**Stay tuned as we cover Luka’s transition to the world of long tennis, the Mavericks’ next chapter, and how this decision could impact the future of athlete cross-sport careers.**
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