The shock of the Luka Doncic trade continues to ripple through the NBA, and the Slovenian superstar has made his feelings known in a subtle yet telling way. Just hours after the Dallas Mavericks sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Doncic unfollowed the Mavericks, head coach Jason Kidd, and general manager Nico Harrison on Instagram.
This move all but confirms that Luka Doncic felt blindsided by the trade, especially considering that he never requested a move. The decision to part ways with their franchise player was entirely made by the Mavericks’ front office, leaving Doncic with no choice but to accept the reality of playing for the Lakers.
Interestingly, Doncic continues to follow former Mavericks governor Mark Cuban, who has long been one of his biggest supporters. Cuban and Doncic developed a strong bond over the years, with Cuban often making it clear that he considered Luka untouchable in trade discussions.
In fact, Cuban famously once said that he would ‘divorce his wife before trading Luka Doncic’ which makes the fact that Doncic was moved even more shocking. But, Cuban no longer has the power to make those decisions, as he sold the majority ownership of the Mavericks in December 2023 while retaining a minority stake.
Cuban’s reaction to the trade was brief but telling. When asked for his thoughts, he simply responded with four letters: “MFFL” (Mavericks Fan For Life). While he may still love the franchise, there’s little doubt that Cuban would not have made this move if he were still in charge.
The fallout from the trade is not just emotional—it’s also visible on social media. Since trading away Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks have lost over 700,000 followers on Instagram. The team had 5.3 million followers before the trade, but that number has since dropped to 4.6 million.
This mass exodus of fans proves just how popular Doncic was with Mavericks supporters. Many loyal followers clearly felt betrayed by the move, leading them to distance themselves from the franchise altogether. It’s rare for an NBA team to experience such a drastic social media decline overnight, but Doncic’s departure has sparked an unprecedented backlash.
Luka’s decision to unfollow the team and its key decision-makers on social media sends a clear message—he feels betrayed by how this trade was handled. Unlike typical superstar trades where players push for a move or signal dissatisfaction, Doncic never asked out. Instead, the Mavericks front office made the decision behind closed doors, leaving even head coach Jason Kidd stunned when the news broke.
By cutting off digital ties with Kidd and Harrison, Doncic is likely signaling that he no longer respects or trusts them. The Mavericks, in turn, believed that Luka’s conditioning issues, injury history, and defensive liabilities made it too risky to commit a $345 million supermax contract to him this summer.
Instead, they opted to build around Anthony Davis, betting that defense and a new team identity would bring them closer to a championship.
Now a member of the Lakers, Doncic has the opportunity to play alongside LeBron James, a player who has openly admired him for years. However, there’s no question that this trade has left a bitter taste in Doncic’s mouth. His social media move is a modern-day equivalent of burning bridges, signaling that he has no desire to maintain a relationship with the Mavericks’ current leadership.
While it’s unclear whether Doncic will ever address the trade publicly, his actions speak volumes. The Mavericks made their choice—and Luka has made it clear he’s moving on.
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