The NBA world was shaken to its core when news broke that the Dallas Mavericks had traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. While fans, analysts, and players were left scrambling for answers, Doncic himself was reportedly just as shocked as everyone else.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Doncic had no idea the trade was happening and was blindsided by the Mavericks‘ decision.
“This deal materialized in the shadows. This came out of nowhere. This is maybe the most stunning trade—definitely the most stunning I’ve been a part of in recent NBA history—as far as it never being clearly out there.”
“You saw two teams, Rob Pelinka with the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks’ Nico Harrison, doing this deal. And I’m told Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, the players, coaches— a lot of people on both sides, with the Mavericks and Lakers—had no idea.”
“I can assuredly tell you it’s a fact: LeBron James had no idea this was coming. Anthony Davis had no idea this was coming. I’m told Luka Doncic is still stunned about this trade.”
“But when you look at the totality of what just occurred, Luka Doncic is a 25-year-old—like you said—megastar, a perennial All-NBA player. He’s someone that you think of as untouchable, as a guy that’s never going to be traded.”
“I’m told that the Mavericks actually approached the Lakers and offered Luka Doncic a few days ago in a trade. Very recently, the Mavericks went out, and they knew exactly who they wanted—they wanted Anthony Davis.”
“That’s the player that, if they were ever going to trade Luka Doncic, if this was even a thought that was going to cross their mind, it was for AD.”
“And so, the Mavericks called the Lakers, offered Luka Doncic, and that’s when the Lakers had to huddle internally. They did. They had never offered Anthony Davis in a trade—ever.”
“But if you’re going to get offered Luka Doncic, that’s what Jeanie Buss, Rob Pelinka, and that organization had to meet about. And at the end of the day, it’s Luka Doncic. He’s a 25-year-old player, and for the next decade, you can look at him as the face of your franchise.”
“On the other side, with the Mavericks, you have someone who’s 31, in the prime of his career, and he wants to win a championship now—Anthony Davis does. You pair him with Kyrie Irving, who he’s friends with and close with.”
“Jason Kidd coached him on the 2020 championship Lakers. Jared Dudley, there are other members of that coaching staff that he’s very close with, and Nico Harrison—he has a relationship with him through Nike.”
“So, when you take the curtains back, it makes a lot of sense in many ways. But this, coming right now, is the most stunning trade that I’ve definitely been a part of.”
“This deal materialized in the shadows … LeBron James had no idea this was coming. Anthony Davis had no idea this was coming. I’m told Luka Doncic is still stunned about this trade.”@ShamsCharania on the Anthony Davis-Luka Doncic trade between the Lakers and Mavericks pic.twitter.com/Hp4bL3UX2M
— ESPN (@espn) February 2, 2025
Charania described the trade as “materializing in the shadows,” noting that neither Doncic, Davis, nor LeBron James had any prior knowledge of the move.
For a player of Doncic’s caliber, the notion of being traded midseason is almost unheard of. At just 25 years old, Doncic is a five-time All-Star and a perennial MVP candidate. He had become synonymous with the Mavericks franchise, leading them to the NBA Finals last season and cementing himself as one of the league’s most unstoppable offensive forces.
Yet, despite his generational talent, Dallas opted to move on. The Mavericks, who had concerns about Doncic’s conditioning and the financial implications of his upcoming supermax contract, initiated the trade talks. They approached the Lakers with a simple proposition: If you’re willing to trade Anthony Davis, we’ll give you Luka Doncic.
For Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka, it was a no-brainer.
From the Mavericks’ perspective, the decision to move Doncic was based on reshaping the team around defense. Dallas GM Nico Harrison made it clear that the organization wanted a player like Davis, a dominant two-way presence, to pair alongside Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson.
The Mavericks also received Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick in the deal, while the Lakers acquired Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris.
For Doncic, the trade was completely unexpected. He had spent his entire NBA career in Dallas, and despite some frustrations over the years regarding roster construction, there were no indications that he wanted out. Charania reported that Doncic only found out about the trade on Saturday night, just like the rest of the basketball world.
While Doncic has not publicly commented yet, sources close to him say he is still processing the move. Having been the face of the Mavericks since 2018, being uprooted and sent to Los Angeles so suddenly has undoubtedly left him in shock.
The Lakers now have their next franchise superstar in Doncic, a player who can carry the team long after LeBron James retires. He enters a situation where he will be expected to lead a championship push immediately, something he is certainly capable of.
For Dallas, the gamble is on Anthony Davis staying healthy and thriving alongside Kyrie Irving in a revamped system. If Davis can maintain his All-NBA level and the Mavericks’ defensive philosophy pays off, they could still be contenders in the West.
But for now, the league is still reeling from the shock of this trade—especially Luka Doncic himself.
