Luka Doncic says the most valuable lesson he took away from playing alongside LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers had little to do with anything that happened during games themselves, and everything to do with what James does long before tipoff.

Doncic made the comments during an appearance on James’ “Mind the Game” podcast, co-hosted with two-time MVP Steve Nash, reflecting on his time as a teammate of the four-time NBA MVP since arriving in Los Angeles via a blockbuster midseason trade in February 2025.

What Doncic learned

Asked what stood out most about playing alongside James, Doncic pointed directly to James’ preparation habits rather than his on-court production. “First of all, off the court, you know, all the things he does just to be ready for the game. And obviously on the court, everybody knows what kind of player he is,” Doncic said.

When pressed for a specific example, Doncic described being genuinely surprised by how early James arrives at the arena before games. “He shows up like 10 hours before the game. … I came to the arena, he was already done working out. I was like, what?” Doncic said.

A trade that reshaped the Lakers

Doncic joined the Lakers in a trade that stunned the NBA when it was announced, sending him from the Dallas Mavericks to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis just weeks before the 2025 trade deadline. At the time, Doncic was already regarded as one of the league’s most talented offensive players, but questions persisted about his conditioning and defensive effort, criticism that had followed him for much of his career in Dallas.

Those questions carried into his first partial season with the Lakers, which ended with a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Entering the following offseason, Doncic faced pressure to reshape his conditioning heading into a full season alongside James.

A dramatically improved season

Doncic answered that challenge. Last summer, he dropped significant weight and reported to training camp in markedly better shape, a transformation that carried through into one of the best individual seasons of his career. Over the 2025-26 season, Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game while leading the Lakers to a 53-29 record and the fourth seed in the Western Conference.

Doncic’s improved conditioning appeared to pay off on both ends of the floor. He earned Western Conference Player of the Month honors in both January and March, and his defensive engagement, long a target of criticism, showed clear signs of improvement over the course of the season.

A season cut short by injury

Despite that strong individual campaign, Doncic’s season ended prematurely when he suffered a season-ending hamstring strain on April 2, forcing him to miss the Lakers’ playoff run entirely. The injury denied Doncic the chance to build on his regular-season performance on basketball’s biggest stage, a frustrating conclusion to what had otherwise been a breakout year in Los Angeles.

Despite the injury setback, Doncic has expressed optimism about the Lakers’ direction heading into next season. He recently said he is “excited” about the team’s retooled roster, and separately described himself as “very excited” for the start of the new campaign, signaling confidence in Los Angeles’ outlook even after the disappointment of missing the postseason.

A veteran mentor with a long track record

James, now widely regarded as one of the most disciplined professional athletes in terms of body maintenance and game preparation, has served as a mentor figure for a long line of younger Lakers teammates over his tenure with the franchise. His approach to recovery, nutrition and physical conditioning has been credited by numerous teammates and opponents alike as a significant factor in his ability to remain a high-level performer well into his 20th NBA season.

Doncic’s account of James’ pregame routine, arriving roughly 10 hours before tipoff and completing his workout before most players have even reached the arena, reflects a level of preparation that has become something of a defining trait associated with James throughout his career, one that Doncic suggested directly influenced his own approach to conditioning heading into last season.

At 27 years old, Doncic appears to be entering what could become an especially productive stretch of his career, having paired his existing offensive brilliance with a newly improved level of physical conditioning during his first full season in Los Angeles. With James continuing to serve as both a teammate and, by Doncic’s own account, something of a professional example to follow, the Lakers will be looking for Doncic to build further on last season’s individual success once healthy for training camp.

Whether that improved conditioning and preparation habits translate into deeper playoff success for the Lakers next season remains to be seen, particularly given how last season ended prematurely due to injury. But Doncic’s comments on James’ podcast suggest that, beyond any statistical or on-court influence, playing alongside James has already reshaped how Doncic approaches the less visible parts of being a professional athlete, the preparation that happens long before any game begins.

SK Hynix’s U.S.-listed shares climbed further Thursday, extending a volatile but largely upward run since the South Korean memory chipmaker’s record-breaking Nasdaq debut two weeks ago, as renewed optimism about artificial intelligence infrastructure spending lifted chip stocks broadly.

SK Hynix’s American depositary receipts, trading under the ticker SKHY, stood at $172.70 as of 12:55 p.m. Eastern time, up $7.43, or 4.50%, on the day. The gain builds on a stretch of significant volatility for the newly listed shares, which have swung sharply in both directions since their Nasdaq debut on July 10.

What’s driving Thursday’s gains

Thursday’s rally was fueled largely by Alphabet’s latest earnings report, released after Wednesday’s market close, in which the Google parent company raised its 2026 capital expenditure forecast to a range of $195 billion to $205 billion, up from its earlier guidance of $180 billion to $190 billion. Alphabet also reported that Google Cloud revenue jumped 82% to $24.8 billion in the second quarter, reinforcing investor confidence in continued heavy spending on AI infrastructure. Alphabet Chief Financial Officer Anat Ashkenazi said demand continues to exceed supply. “The demand still outpaces that investment,” Ashkenazi said.

That spending signal rippled through the broader semiconductor sector Thursday. Shares of Micron Technology rose roughly 3% at the start of U.S. trading, while SK Hynix’s ADR gained more than double that percentage, reflecting the additional volatility built into the newly listed depositary receipts, which trade with a capped conversion structure relative to the company’s Seoul-listed shares.

A record-breaking Nasdaq debut

SK Hynix made history earlier this month when it raised $26.5 billion in its American depositary receipt offering, the largest first-time share sale by a foreign company ever recorded in the United States, surpassing the $25 billion Alibaba raised in its 2014 listing. The company sold 177.9 million ADRs at $149 each, with each ADR representing one-tenth of a common share traded in Seoul. The offering was more than seven times oversubscribed, according to Bloomberg, drawing interest from long-only generalist funds, technology-focused funds, sovereign wealth funds and globally focused Asia investors.

Shares jumped 13% on their first day of trading July 10, closing at $168.01. SK Hynix Chairman Chey Tae-won described the milestone in personal terms during an interview with CNBC at the time. “It’s a kind of dream, and now it’s a dream come true,” Chey said, adding that demand for the company’s high-bandwidth memory chips used in AI applications showed no signs of slowing. “The demand is enormous, exponentially, so I don’t really see” evidence that demand is shrinking, he said.

A volatile first two weeks

The stock’s performance since its debut has been anything but steady. Just days after listing, the ADRs tumbled 9.3% in a single session as a record selloff in South Korean equities spilled into U.S. trading, before more than recovering with a 27% gain the following day. That swing pushed the ADR’s premium over SK Hynix’s Seoul-listed common shares to as high as 51% at one point, far above the roughly 3% premium at which the securities were originally priced.

More recently, the premium has moderated but remained elevated. As of Wednesday’s session, SK Hynix’s ADR traded at a calculated premium of roughly 34.5% over its Seoul shares once adjusted for currency exchange rates, according to market analysis, reflecting continued strong U.S. investor demand relative to the underlying Korean-listed stock.

Why investors are betting on SK Hynix

SK Hynix is the world’s leading producer of high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, a specialized and complex form of computer memory created by stacking multiple layers of traditional memory chips together, which has become essential for powering AI accelerator chips made by companies including Nvidia. That positioning has fueled a dramatic rise in the company’s valuation, with SK Hynix’s stock climbing more than sevenfold over the past year amid a global shortage of AI-grade memory chips and sharply rising prices.

The company’s aggressive expansion plans, including continued investment in its Yongin HBM production hub in South Korea and a packaging plant in Indiana, were central to its rationale for pursuing the U.S. listing, giving SK Hynix expanded access to American capital markets to fund its buildout.

What’s ahead for the stock

SK Hynix is scheduled to report second-quarter earnings on July 29, a report that will offer investors their first detailed look at the company’s financial performance since its Nasdaq listing. Analysts’ preliminary consensus estimates project earnings per share of 71,211 won, a figure roughly 3.6% higher than estimates from a month earlier, reflecting continued upward revisions to the company’s expected performance heading into the report.

Separately, SK Hynix moved this week to deny media reports suggesting it was in talks to acquire Intel’s Ohio semiconductor manufacturing facility, a report that had circulated amid broader speculation about consolidation and partnership activity across the chip industry.

A broader rally across Asian chip stocks

SK Hynix’s gains Thursday came alongside broader strength in South Korea’s stock market. The company’s Seoul-listed shares finished 4.86% higher at 1.919 million won, contributing to gains across the country’s benchmark index, with fellow chipmaker Samsung Electronics also among the beneficiaries of the renewed optimism around AI-related capital spending following Alphabet’s earnings report.

With SK Hynix’s earnings report just days away, investors are likely to watch closely for further confirmation of the demand trends that have driven the stock’s dramatic rise over the past year, along with any additional detail on the company’s HBM production capacity and pricing power heading into the second half of 2026. Given the elevated premium the ADRs continue to command over their Seoul-listed counterpart, some analysts have cautioned that a narrowing of that gap remains a possibility depending on how the upcoming earnings report and broader market sentiment around AI spending evolve in the weeks ahead.

The shares of the company dropped to Rs 951 apiece on Thursday, the lowest level seen since June 12. While consolidated net profit grew 34% from Rs 86 crore reported in Q1 of the previous financial year, it fell around 26% sequentially from the Rs 157 crore reported in Q4 of FY26.

Revenue from operations also increased over 53% YoY to Rs 924 crore in Q1 FY27 from Rs 603 crore reported in the corresponding quarter of FY26, but fell more than 16% quarter on quarter (QoQ) from Rs 1,102 crore reported in the previous quarter (Q4 FY26). “We believe the true measure of business strength lies in sustained YoY growth,” the company said.

Waaree Renewable’s EBITDA grew nearly 48% YoY to Rs 173 crore, while EBITDA margin declined to 18.77% in Q1 FY27 from 19.49% in Q1 FY26. The company said it has been expanding its capabilities across adjacent segments beyond its core renewable EPC business, adding that its recent acquisition of Associated Power Structures (APSPL) strengthens its presence in the transmission and distribution (T&D) space.

What Waaree Renewable’s management said

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The global business environment continues to face multiple challenges, including geopolitical tensions, tariff uncertainties, supply chain adjustments and regional conflicts, said Waaree Renewable CFO Manmohan Sharma. “Despite these headwinds, we are pleased to begin FY27 on a strong note, with consolidated revenue for Q1 FY27 at Rs 924.25 crores compared to Rs 603.19 crore in Q1 FY26, reflecting a robust growth of 53.23%. This performance was driven by steady execution across our EPC portfolio, efficient resource deployment, and a sustained focus on disciplined project delivery,” he added.
The executive said that the company’s acquisition of 55% stake in Associated Power Structures strengthens its capabilities in transmission and distribution (T&D), enabling it to offer integrated solutions while continuing to expand renewable EPC business in a disciplined and scalable manner.
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“Backed by a healthy unexecuted order book of Rs. 5,300+ crores, Waaree Renewable remains well positioned for sustained growth, supported by expanding O&M capabilities. Supported by a strong execution track record and expanding capabilities, we remain confident in our long-term growth strategy. We will continue to focus on disciplined execution, operational excellence, and delivering sustainable value to our stakeholders,” Manmohan Sharma further said.

Waaree Renewable share price
Waaree Renewable shares debuted on the BSE SME index in August 2012 with an issue size of Rs 5 crore. In 2019, the stock migrated to the main exchange after the company grew both in market capitalisation as well as sales.

The stock has delivered massive returns of more than 2,870% in the past five years, but have fallen over 14% in one year. While the stock has gained more than 9% in six months, it is down 3% in one month and 5% in the past five days. The company currently has a market capitalisation of Rs 10,015 crore.

Also Read | Alphabet’s quarterly earnings beat Wall Street estimates, but here’s what is spooking investors

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

R&B singer Nivea has revealed that she is battling leukemia, sharing details of her diagnosis and treatment during a recent interview while expressing deep gratitude for the perspective the experience has given her.

The 44-year-old performer, known for her early 2000s hits, disclosed the news on the “Cadillac Chronicles” interview series. When asked what she was thankful for at the moment, she responded candidly about her health journey.

“I was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year, and I am so grateful to God,” she said. “I’ve been going through treatment and everything is going great so far. And I expect it to continue. Amen. Amen. Amen. And I’m very grateful for life. It’s so cliché to say, you know, you don’t know the time nor the hour, and it’s true.”

Nivea, whose full name is Nivea B. Hamilton, noted that the diagnosis shifted her outlook significantly. “It just helped me put a lot of things in perspective,” she added. “And I live in gratitude like religiously, and I’m just grateful for everything. I’m doing things I want to do. I’m definitely back into my music.”

She also shared that she has returned to school to study audio engineering, a longtime interest. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to engineer, and mix and engineer in particular,” she said. “But, in general, just doing all the things, honey. Loving all my children and just being grateful. Taking every opportunity that comes my way.”

When asked about the biggest lesson she has learned, Nivea emphasized presence and appreciation. “Definitely don’t take anything for granted,” she said. “Like, I definitely lived in my younger years. The days just flew by, and I was just doing what I was doing. I don’t know. It’s kind of like you don’t recognize the short time that we do have here, and how everything is … I’ve always noticed the beauty in everything, though, I will say that. But, to be more present in the moment is definitely something I’ve learned. This time will never occur again. Being more present in the moment. Counting the blessings. Being more grateful.”

She continued by discussing the power of focus and positivity. “The universe or God or whatever you want to call it, your brain will find the things you focus on,” she said. “You know where the mind goes energy goes. So I just try to think of positive things. I’m a very optimistic person.”

Nivea rose to prominence in the early 2000s with her self-titled debut album released in 2002. Her single “Don’t Mess with My Man” earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance in 2003. She has released four albums in total, with her most recent being “Mirrors” in 2019.

Fans and supporters have responded with messages of encouragement following the revelation. Many recalled her previous health challenges, including a postpartum stroke she experienced years earlier, and praised her resilience and continued creative pursuits.

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood-forming tissues that can affect people of various ages. Treatment approaches often include chemotherapy, targeted therapies or other medical interventions depending on the specific type and stage. Nivea indicated her treatment has progressed positively so far and expressed optimism about continued improvement.

In the interview, the singer repeatedly returned to themes of faith and gratitude. She framed the diagnosis not solely as a medical challenge but as a catalyst for living more intentionally and pursuing long-held goals such as music production skills.

Nivea’s career has spanned more than two decades, with her early work establishing her as a notable voice in contemporary R&B. Beyond recording, she has remained connected to music through performances and personal projects. Her decision to study audio engineering reflects a desire to expand her role behind the console as well as in front of the microphone.

The timing of the public disclosure comes as she continues treatment while balancing family life and creative ambitions. She spoke warmly about her children and the importance of seizing opportunities, suggesting a renewed sense of purpose.

Music industry observers noted that artists often share health journeys to raise awareness and connect with fans on a human level. Nivea’s openness aligns with a broader trend of public figures discussing medical challenges candidly.

Her comments about living in the present and avoiding complacency resonated with many who have followed her career. The singer acknowledged that time can pass quickly during periods of activity and success, and that intentional presence requires deliberate effort.

Nivea’s story also highlights the role of spiritual practice for some individuals facing serious illness. She repeatedly credited God for her progress and expressed repeated affirmations of gratitude and expectation for continued positive outcomes.

As she continues treatment, Nivea appears focused on both recovery and personal growth. Her return to music and enrollment in audio engineering courses suggest an active approach to the future rather than a pause.

Supporters have encouraged her publicly, revisiting her catalog of songs and celebrating her determination. The response underscores the connection many fans feel with artists who share vulnerable moments.

Leukemia awareness efforts often emphasize early detection and the importance of medical care. While Nivea did not detail specific symptoms or the precise form of the disease, her willingness to discuss the diagnosis may prompt conversations among listeners about health monitoring.

In the interview, she balanced realism about the uncertainty of life with a clear sense of optimism. The repeated “Amen” and statements of gratitude framed her outlook as one rooted in faith and expectation of positive results.

Nivea’s career trajectory includes both commercial success and periods of relative quiet. Her 2019 album “Mirrors” marked a later chapter, and recent comments indicate she is re-engaging with creative work amid her health management.

Family remains a central theme in her reflections. Mentions of loving her children and prioritizing meaningful experiences suggest that personal relationships have taken on heightened importance.

The broader context of her revelation includes the physical and emotional demands of cancer treatment. Many patients describe shifts in priorities, relationships and daily routines. Nivea’s account aligns with those common experiences while remaining distinctly personal.

She has not indicated any interruption in her long-term plans. Instead, the diagnosis appears to have accelerated certain pursuits, including formal training in engineering skills she had long desired.

Industry colleagues and fellow artists have in the past offered support during similar disclosures. While specific statements from peers were not detailed in the initial interview, the overall response from the public has been one of solidarity.

Nivea’s emphasis on positivity and mental focus reflects practices many people adopt during difficult periods. She described intentionally directing her thoughts toward constructive and hopeful outcomes.

As treatment continues, updates on her progress will likely be of interest to fans who have followed her career. For now, her message centers on gratitude, faith and living intentionally.

The singer’s openness provides a window into how one public figure is navigating a serious diagnosis while maintaining creative and personal goals. Her words underscore both the challenges and the potential for renewed purpose that can accompany such experiences.

Nivea’s story continues to unfold as she balances medical care with music, education and family. The perspective she described—valuing presence, counting blessings and maintaining optimism—remains central to the account she shared.

Fans and observers will continue to follow her journey with interest and support. Her early hits introduced her to a wide audience, and her current reflections offer a more personal dimension to her public presence.

In speaking about the diagnosis, Nivea chose language of gratitude and expectation rather than solely focusing on difficulty. That framing has defined the public conversation around her revelation.

The interview captured a moment of vulnerability paired with resilience. As she continues treatment and creative work, her emphasis on living fully in the present serves as a consistent theme.

Nivea’s career and personal narrative now include this chapter of health management and personal growth. The response from listeners reflects appreciation for her candor and determination.

Free agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill said in a new rehabilitation video posted Wednesday that he still lacks strength in his surgically repaired left leg, roughly 10 months after suffering a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments that ended his 2025 season and, so far, kept him off any NFL roster.

Hill, 32, shared the update in a video posted to his YouTube channel, offering fans and prospective teams their most direct look yet at where his recovery stands as NFL training camps begin opening around the league this week.

What Hill said about his recovery

Hill described his current physical state in blunt terms. “So it’s about 10 months after doing two surgeries,” Hill said in the video. “My left leg is the one that I injured. I have no power in my left leg at all, so I’m trying to regain all the power back in my left leg. But it’s one day at a time.”

He detailed the specific rehabilitation work he has been doing to rebuild strength in the injured leg. “I’ve been activating the quads, the glutes, the hamstrings, the calves. I’ve been doing all the stability work, all the mobility work I need to get my knee back right,” Hill said. Despite the lack of power he described, Hill struck an optimistic tone about his overall progress, declining to commit to a specific timetable for a return. “I ain’t going to tell you what my timeline is, but timeline looking real good right now, man,” he said.

How the injury happened

Hill dislocated and tore multiple ligaments in his left knee, including his ACL and LCL, during the Miami Dolphins’ 27-21 win over the New York Jets on Sept. 29, 2025. He underwent surgery the following day and later had an additional procedure on his LCL this past February. Hill said doctors initially told him he “might not be able to walk again” following the injury, underscoring the severity of the damage even as he now works to regain strength and mobility.

In the video, Hill is shown performing a range of exercises as part of his rehabilitation, including work in a swimming pool, resistance band training, and some light running and jumping on turf and a basketball court, activities that suggest continued progress even as he says explosive power in the leg has not yet returned.

A free agent since February

Miami released Hill in February after four seasons with the franchise, making him a free agent for the first time in his career. He had appeared in just four games during the 2025 season before the injury, recording 21 catches for 265 yards and one touchdown. As of this week, no team has signed Hill, and there has been no strong indication throughout the offseason that any franchise is close to doing so, given the uncertainty surrounding his recovery timeline and long-term explosiveness following such a severe injury.

Medical experts following Hill’s situation have offered a cautious outlook on his prospects for a full return to his prior form. Dr. David Chao, founder of Sports Injury Central and a former team physician for the San Diego Chargers, noted the severity of the type of injury Hill suffered when assessing his outlook, pointing to the case of NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who missed a year and a half after dislocating his knee. Chao noted that Hill’s injury involved more than just a torn ACL, reflecting the broader ligament damage that has complicated his recovery.

A decorated career, now in question

Hill enters this uncertain stretch of his career as one of the most accomplished wide receivers of his generation. Since entering the NFL in 2016, he ranks second among all wide receivers in career receiving yards with 11,363, third in touchdowns with 83, and fifth in receptions with 819. He has earned eight Pro Bowl selections and was named First Team All-Pro five times across his 10 NFL seasons split between the Kansas City Chiefs and Dolphins. Hill also won Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs during the 2019 season.

His best individual season came in 2023, his second year in Miami, when he led the entire NFL in both receiving yards, with 1,799, and receiving touchdowns, with 13, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s most explosive offensive weapons before last season’s injury.

A message of gratitude

Hill closed his video update by thanking the medical staff who have supported him throughout his recovery process. “Shout out to all the doctors I’ve seen. Shout out to the Miami Dolphins training crew,” he said. “They’ve been great. Everybody has been great throughout this process.”

With NFL teams beginning to report for training camp this week, Hill’s continued free agency, and the uncertainty surrounding when, or whether, he will regain the explosive speed that defined his career, leaves his football future genuinely in question heading into the 2026 season. While Hill’s own comments suggest cautious optimism about his overall trajectory, his acknowledgment that he still lacks power in his surgically repaired leg 10 months post-injury indicates that any potential return to an NFL roster, let alone a return to his prior level of play, remains, by his own account, still some distance away.