It was described as the most shocking trade in NBA history when the Dallas Mavericks swapped Luka Doncic for Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis. It was a trade that nobody saw coming, not even Luka Doncic. In a recent appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, head coach Jason Kidd relived the trade and revealed his final parting words to No. 77.
“I texted him that morning [after the trade] and that’s the last time I’ve talked to him,” said Kidd. “I don’t think he was too happy, and again, from the experience of being traded, maybe being surprised, upset, feelings are high, but again, I loved the opportunity of coaching Luka. He’s an incredible person, and we all know his talent is one of the best in the world. Again, my mindset is to deal with the cards I’m dealt and keep pushing forward. I’ve always said this, publicly and privately, I wish Luka the best. He’s one of the best players in the world.”
Kidd had been coaching Doncic for years leading up to the 2025 trade deadline. Together, they made multiple deep playoff runs, including in the 2024 postseason, when they qualified for the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011. Leading up to the trade, there were no signs that a breakup was imminent, but Kidd says that he was already starting to lose patience with the Slovenian superstar.
With career averages of 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, Doncic’s status as a top NBA player is undeniable, but not everyone agrees on his effectiveness as a leader. When he had complete control of the Mavericks, Doncic was notoriously out of shape, and it would often cost his team during the most important moments.
For all of his offensive capabilities, Luka was a complete negative on defense, and his effort on that end was so bad that it made him almost unplayable in the playoffs. In his lone Finals appearance last year, the Celtics exposed Doncic defensively, and it was the final straw for a Mavericks team that was already losing faith in their leading star.
From Doncic’s perspective, it was the Mavericks who pulled the ultimate betrayal. He gave everything to the franchise and formed an unbreakable bond with the fanbase. So when he was traded without any warning or notice, Doncic was heartbroken, and he took it as the ultimate offense. While Jason Kidd was not the one to call the shots, many believe he had a say in the blockbuster trade, which means he was complicit in letting Doncic go.
The reaction from Mavericks fans has been intense, but Luka has already settled in with his new team. As a member of the Lakers now, Doncic has a chance to thrive in the NBA’s biggest market, but a part of him will always recognize the unfinished business in Dallas.
At this point, Luka has taken the breakup personally, and the best way to get revenge is by leading his new team farther than he ever did with the Mavericks. His work is cut out for him going forward, but he has more motivation than ever to play the best basketball of his career next season.
