Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn’t believe it when he heard the news. The Bucks star admitted he was stunned to learn Luka Doncic had been traded to the Lakers, calling the blockbuster deal a reminder that no player in the NBA is truly untouchable.
“I was having my treatment when a friend told me Doncic became a Laker. I was shocked. I sh*t myself,” Giannis said, via SPORT24. “If Luka is traded, everybody can be traded. He took his team to the Finals. And it’s Luka Doncic. He is 26.”
When it comes to team loyalty, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the poster child for NBA superstars. Since he was drafted in 2013, Giannis has donned the Bucks jersey with pride, and he has resisted the temptation to leave despite several years of disappointing seasons. In return, the Bucks have made his happiness their top priority, going to great lengths to ensure they are competitive every season.
So when Giannis saw what happened back in February, it was hard for him to fathom. At the time, Luka Doncic was a Dallas legend and a hero of the franchise. He was supposed to usher in an era of prosperity for the Mavericks, but he never got the chance to see it through.
In a shocking move nobody saw coming, the Mavericks turned on Luka in a deal with the Lakers that changed the entire NBA hierarchy. Citing concerns over his leadership and conditioning, GM Nico Harrison has only doubled down on the trade, and they have no regrets.
Meanwhile, Luka has vowed to take revenge by dominating with the Lakers. After averaging 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game last season, Doncic has committed to excellence by getting into shape and expanding his game to new heights. The results were impressive at EuroBasket 2025, but only time will tell how it translates to the regular season.
For Giannis, the whole ordeal was a reminder that nobody is safe in the NBA. While the NBA may be a business, you don’t expect a player of Luka’s caliber to get traded unless he asks out. If a star that special and that young could get blindsided like that, then any star is subject to the same fate.
The key for Giannis and the Bucks is ensuring they get back to being competitive. With Damian Lillard out of the picture, Giannis will have to lead a new cast of teammates, which includes Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, and Gary Trent Jr.
While many uncertainties remain about Giannis’ future, he’s focused on the present, and that means he’s all-in on a title pursuit with the Bucks. The only question is whether they can do better than their performance last year at 48-34 for fifth in the East.
Giannis’ raw reaction to Luka’s trade captures what the entire league felt in that moment: shock. If a 26-year-old MVP candidate who just led his team to the Finals can be moved without warning, then nobody is truly safe. It’s a reminder that in today’s NBA, loyalty and status mean less than the cold calculus of front-office decisions. For Giannis and every other superstar, the message is clear: always be ready, because everything can change in an instant.
