As NBA superstar Luka Doncic gets used to his new surroundings, he’s still dealing with the fallout of leaving the franchise he’s called home for the past seven years. Now, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Doncic is “seething” at his former team for committing the ultimate betrayal.
“He betrayed nothing [on Tuesday], but from what I understand, he’s seething at them,” said Windhorst. “And their fan base is seething at their team in a way that I’ve rarely seen before… I suspect Doncic will be looking at Dallas games very, very closely going forward.”
It’s not usual for NBA superstars of Luka’s caliber to be traded so suddenly but the Mavericks proved they operate differently by pulling the ultimate shock move. By trading Doncic, the Mavericks effectively bet on his failure and opted to move out in front of it by trading for Anthony Davis instead.
Despite averages of 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game this season, the Mavericks gave up on Luka, citing conditioning and weight concerns that have been years in the making. Instead of committing to offer him a supermax contract, the Mavericks cost him millions by shipping him to the Lakers in a last-minute trade before the deadline.
By all accounts, Luka was loyal to the Mavericks and he intended to spend the rest of his career there. He was actively working his way back from injury and had even recently bought a property in the area.
In the direct aftermath of the trade, Doncic himself was distraught and reports say that he was brought to tears trying to take in the news. Luka’s father, Sasa, slammed the organization for being “hypocrites” with their treatment of his son.
After everything Luka invested into the team, he considers it a personal insult to trade him now, at 25 years old, just entering the peak of his career. The Mavericks have called into question Luka’s work ethic and his commitment to winning and now the young superstar is eager to prove them wrong.
If he can show up this season in shape and stays committed to playing his best game, it may be enough to make a serious splash with the Purple and Gold. Of course, the process will take time and Luka cannot do it alone.
As Doncic prepares to return to action from his nagging injury, the Lakers are looking at ways to improve the roster and put him in a position to succeed as the newest member of the organization. Besides LeBron James and Austin Reaves, the Lakers also have young studs like Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht to help make up the difference.
More than anything, the Lakers will need a big man to help Luka maximize his. Lakers tenure and Rob Pelinka is reportedly already on the hunt. This season, as Luka adapts to his new reality, he’s going to do everything he can to prove the Mavericks wrong and validate his reputation as one of the top players in the game.
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