Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall opened up about the emotional impact of Luka Doncic’s shocking trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, sharing his heartfelt reaction on The Young Man and Three podcast. Marshall, who joined the Mavericks midseason and only had a brief time to play alongside Doncic, didn’t hold back when describing how difficult it was to see the franchise superstar suddenly dealt away.
“I mean, I understood that, like, business is business as far as the NBA, but I was hurt, man. Luka’s my dawg, for real. And I love AD. That’s my guy right there. Like, he’s been great with us. You know, he welcomed us with open arms. Like, that’s my guy.”
“But as far as just personally, like, I just was hurt to lose Luka, man. I mean, it was a great time spent with him, the short time we did. And, I mean, I was just hurt to see him go..”
“Luka is just the chillest guy ever, bro. You just feel like his best friend from day one. He’s just a great dude. Never mad, just always happy. And just a Hall of Fame flamethrower when it comes to basketball.”
It was an honest and raw response from a player who barely had a few months of shared court time with Doncic. Yet, despite the short window, Marshall said the Slovenian superstar made a deep impression on him, both as a teammate and as a person.
Doncic’s trade at the deadline to the Lakers, part of the blockbuster that brought Anthony Davis, Markieff Morris, and future assets to Dallas, sent shockwaves across the league.
For years, Luka had been the face of the Mavericks, a generational talent and a leader who dragged the team deep into playoff contention. The move represented a massive shift for Dallas, signaling a new era centered around Davis and a win-now mindset under general manager Nico Harrison.
Marshall was one of the role players caught in the emotional crossfire. A gritty two-way wing who had bounced between New Orleans and Dallas, he had found quick chemistry with Doncic, sharing defensive duties and spacing the floor for Luka’s unique offensive orchestration.
While Marshall expressed appreciation for Davis, calling him “my guy” and praising his leadership since arriving in Dallas, it’s clear the void left by Doncic remains personal.
The NBA is no stranger to high-profile trades and cold business decisions, but for players like Marshall, who build bonds in locker rooms and on team flights, these moments are rarely just about basketball. They’re about losing a teammate, a leader, and in Luka’s case, someone who made the game feel easier and more joyful.
Now tasked with anchoring the wing rotation for a revamped Mavericks team built around Davis and the soon-to-be-drafted Cooper Flagg, Marshall is focused on the future. But his words serve as a reminder that trades aren’t just headlines; they leave lasting effects on the people involved.
And for Naji Marshall, the memory of playing alongside Luka Doncic, however short, clearly left a mark.
