The Phoenix Suns bench was in complete disbelief when the news of the Luka Doncic–Anthony Davis blockbuster trade broke during their game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
As the Suns’ starters sat out the closing minutes of their blowout 127-108 loss, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and their teammates were visibly stunned, with Durant’s reaction perfectly encapsulating the shock that swept through the NBA.
Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic, Mason Plumlee, Royce O’Neale & the Phoenix Suns bench were STUNNED when they hurt about the Anthony Davis-Luka Doncic blockbuster trade 😂😳
Via. @macandhee/TT pic.twitter.com/2mrvbpZ6mW
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) February 2, 2025
Durant, sitting on the bench, checked his phone as the alert came through. His facial expression said it all—pure shock. The Mavericks, a team that just made the NBA Finals last season, had traded away their 25-year-old franchise cornerstone for Anthony Davis, a dominant two-way force but nowhere near the same tier of talent as Luka Doncic.
Along with Davis, the Lakers also sent Max Christie and a first-round pick, making the trade package even more puzzling.
For Bradley Beal, the reaction was just as stunned. The Suns star, who has been in the league long enough to witness blockbuster trades, looked equally shocked as he processed the news. Devin Booker, sitting nearby, let his jaw drop as he processed the magnitude of the trade.
Devin Booker’s reaction to the trade in the middle of the game…His reaction is all of us. 🤯
(via @mikeyduran)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 2, 2025
The trade not only shakes up the Western Conference but also forces every contender to recalibrate their expectations for the rest of the season. The Lakers, who had been leaning heavily on Davis as their best player this year, made an aggressive move to land a generational talent in Doncic. While the deal may look stunning on paper, it raises serious questions.
For the Mavericks, parting ways with a 25-year-old superstar who had already taken them to the Finals is a gamble that many in the league can’t quite comprehend. Doncic has been the face of Dallas since he arrived in 2018, and moving him—especially without warning—felt almost surreal.
The justification, according to Mavs GM Nico Harrison, was a desire to build a stronger defensive identity. But swapping a once-in-a-generation offensive talent for a great defensive player? That’s a move that will be debated for years.
Meanwhile, from the Lakers’ perspective, it was equally shocking. Davis had been their most consistent performer this season, anchoring both their offense and defense. Trading him just days before the deadline stunned many, especially since there had been no prior indication that Los Angeles was even considering such a move. But when a superstar like Doncic becomes available, a team has to act.
This blockbuster trade, happening with just four days left before the February 6 deadline, is undoubtedly the biggest move of the season. With Doncic now wearing purple and gold, and Davis joining Kyrie Irving in Dallas, the Western Conference playoff race has been completely reshaped.
No one saw this coming. No leaks, no hints—just pure, unfiltered NBA chaos. And if Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal’s reactions are any indication, this trade might go down as one of the most shocking in league history.
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