It hasn’t even been two weeks since the viral trade that brought Luka Doncic to the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks. While the Slovenian star was candid about his initial shock, his dad says he’s already moved on entirely from the whole ordeal.
“I have to say, at least what Luka and I talk about, it feels like the trade happened a year ago… we’ve already forgot about it, said Doncic on POP TV. “The bitterness of that moment, it was a shock but at the end of the day, it’s a legitimate right of every team to trade its players if they are not satisfied with them. Ok, what happened happened, life moves on, and Luka adapted very fast. Of course also the Lakers organization, they really make sure you’re comfortable. This trade is long forgotten, so things are moving on.”
Luka Doncic was traded earlier this month in a shocking move by the Mavericks. The former 3rd overall pick is a 5x All-Star and one of the featured faces of the league but he was dealt in his prime in a backdoor deal between Mavericks GM Nico Harrison and Lakers VP Rob Pelinka.
Luka’s dad, Sasa, has been among the most vocal critics of the Mavericks in the aftermath of the trade. When the news was still fresh, he blasted the Mavs for their “hypocrisy” and insisted that his son deserved better treatment. Sasa was one of countless voices around the NBA to express genuine shock and confusion over the deal.
After all, it was Luka who led the franchise to the NBA Finals last year. It’s also Luka who is averaging 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game for his career so far. At 25 years old, he’s widely considered one of the best offensive players in the game and has finished in the top five for MVP in three separate seasons.
The Mavericks trading him mid-season, without warning, was telling enough, but then they doubled down on the deal by calling out Luka’s conditioning. The ordeal is a massive indictment of Luka’s work ethic and a borderline insult to his game.
But now, ahead of his second game as a Laker, Luka is already locked in on the season at hand. After scoring 14 points in his debut, and shaking off the rust in a win over the Jazz, Doncic is ready to take the reigns of the Lake Show and prove that he can lead a team to the title.
It will take time before Doncic is fully integrated with his new team but Luka knows the business more than anyone and he’s not going to let the Mavericks’ betrayal get in the way of success with his new team. The best path forward for Doncic and the Lakers is to get to know each other as quickly as possible so they can build chemistry and establish a better working relationship.
As Luka gets to full strength from his left calf strain, it could take him a few more games before he’s back at full speed. But with LeBron James and Austin Reaves playing elite basketball, Doncic can rest easy knowing the Lakers will not lose much ground.
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