Luka Dončić had jokes about Rob Pelinka’s bold leather jacket at his introductory press conference

Fresh off one of the most shocking, unexpected blockbuster trades in NBA history, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka was clearly feeling himself heading into the introductory press conference for Luka Dončić.

That likely prompted a wild wardrobe choice.

Pelinka walked in alongside the newest franchise cornerstone donning a leather jacket that immediately became the center of jokes on social media, and rightfully so.

Social media wasn’t the only place cracking jokes about the jacket, though, as even Luka joined in. In his recent feature in the Wall Street Journal by Jason Gay, Luka revealed his own joke he tossed Pelinka’s way on the day.

In conversation, he’s so quiet that I sometimes have to lean over at our table to hear what he’s saying, which is important, because even in a fourth language (he also speaks Slovenian, Serbian and Spanish), Luka is funny, with a deadpan sense of humor. Like when I mention the groovy leather jacket Pelinka wore to Doncic’s introductory press conference.

“I asked him where his motorcycle was,” Luka says, breaking into a grin.

There’s something quite funny about Luka, who was certainly going through a wide array of emotions at that time, still taking a moment to throw a playful jab at Pelinka.

I mean, look at that jacket. Who wouldn’t make some kind of comment about it? That’s an incredibly bold fashion choice for someone about to take the proverbial center stage and tell the world how he just yoinked Luka away from Dallas.

Or perhaps Pelinka is actually just going through a midlife crisis and this was a precursor to him being a Harley Davidson type of guy.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.