Luka Doncic excited to join Lakers, says trade was a 'big shock'
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Luka Doncic was nearly asleep last Saturday night in Dallas when his phone buzzed. Only then did he learn that the Mavericks had just stunned the sports world by trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers.
"You can imagine how surprised I was," Doncic said. "I had to check if it was April 1. I didn't really believe it."
The superstar has begun to recover from that shock after his first two days in L.A., and he's growing increasingly excited about a new chapter with LeBron James and his famed new team on the West Coast.
And while his past and future teammates say Doncic has never lacked motivation to be great, he now has all the fuel he'll ever need after the Mavericks inherently questioned his talent and determination by making the seismic trade.
"It was a big shock," Doncic said. "[Dallas] was home, so it was really hard moments for me. ... [But now] I get to play in the greatest club in the world, and I'm excited for this new journey.
"... I would say I always take the high road. I had my amazing moments in Dallas with all my teammates, coaches and most importantly the fans. They always supported me, and it was an amazing journey."
The Lakers formally welcomed Doncic on Tuesday, less than three days after they traded Anthony Davis and Max Christie in a three-team deal for the Slovenian scorer who won his first scoring title last season before leading the Mavs to the NBA Finals. Doncic is a five-time All-NBA selection and a five-time All-Star.
Stars of Doncic's age and accomplishments are almost never traded in any sport, and particularly not in such an abrupt manner. But when Dallas decided to move on from its 25-year-old centerpiece, the Lakers eagerly gave up Davis -- one of basketball's best big men -- to make it happen.
Doncic is still processing the upheaval, but he already is seeing the limitless upside of a career in Los Angeles that will begin alongside James, 40, the top scorer in NBA history.
"Honestly, it was hard at first," Doncic said. "That first day was really hard. I felt like these last 48 hours was one month. Emotionally, it was really hard, but today was much better. This is the Lakers. It's one of the best clubs in history, so I'm excited to be here."
Had Doncic stayed in Dallas, he was eligible for a five-year, $345 million supermax deal from the Mavericks. Now, he's not eligible for such a contract.
When asked whether he or his representatives had indicated to the Mavericks that he wouldn't sign a supermax extension to remain with Dallas, Doncic was emphatic that he hadn't.
"Absolutely not," he said.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka didn't hide his glee at landing Doncic when they met with the media at the Lakers' training complex on Tuesday. In his typically florid style of discourse, Pelinka said Doncic's arrival would bring "basketball joy to the world."
"I think Luka Doncic joining forces with the Los Angeles Lakers is a seismic event in NBA history." Pelinka said. "... We have a 25-year-old global superstar that is going to get on the stage of the most popular and influential basketball brand on the globe. And I think when those two powerful forces get together, it brings basketball joy to the world because that's how Luka plays. He plays with joy."
Although James was blindsided by the deal along with the rest of the NBA, he quickly made a call to Doncic to welcome him to the Lakers. Doncic has often described James as his idol.
"It's just like a dream come true," Doncic said. "I always looked up to him. There's so many things I can learn from him, and I'm just excited to learn everything and get to play with him. It's an amazing feeling."
Doncic hasn't played since Christmas because of a calf strain, but he is close to a return. He will participate in 5-on-5 work at practice Wednesday, and the Lakers will make a plan for Doncic's debut afterward.
The Lakers have four games in the Los Angeles area in the next seven days, with a road game against the Clippers on Tuesday night followed by three straight home games.
The trade caused an uproar in the sports world, leaving most Mavs fans furious -- including Doncic's father, Sasa, who said his son "absolutely did not deserve this."
The basketball world also was baffled by how quiet the Lakers and Mavericks kept the talks. Pelinka clearly took pride in keeping a lid on these negotiations, which began at a coffee shop with Dallas GM Nico Harrison, a longtime friend.
Some of the league's biggest names -- names who, like Doncic, would generally be considered untouchable in trades -- have reacted in complete disbelief.
"Especially with [Dallas] coming off the Finals, it's a reminder that there are only a few in this league that can go to sleep with any type of confidence that you'll still be there," Golden State guard Stephen Curry said. "It's kind of a very unique situation across the board."
Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards added: "They traded probably the best scorer in the NBA at 25. And he didn't know about it. There's a lot more digging somebody's got to do to find out why he got traded. You don't just trade him at 25. He just went to the Finals. I feel bad for Luka, man."
The Utah Jazz helped to facilitate the trade and will get Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-round draft pick via the Clippers from the Lakers. Dallas also is sending a 2025 second-round selection to Utah.
The Lakers acquired Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris from Dallas in the trade. Both praised Doncic's work ethic and leadership -- and both laughed at the widespread notion the Mavs were irredeemably concerned about Doncic's conditioning and work ethic.
"I hear the stuff about him not being in shape, but if you can go in an NBA game and get 30 and 15 and 10 like it's nothing, then I don't really know what shape is," Morris said. "You're going to see it really soon. You'll make the [determination] if he's in shape or not."
Morris returns to the Lakers after winning a championship ring with the team in the Florida bubble in 2020. He said the Mavs informed him he had been traded Saturday night, but not where he was going -- he learned that on television and social media.
Kleber is on crutches after having surgery on his broken right foot. The German veteran -- best known in L.A. for hitting a particularly spectacular 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Lakers in March 2023 -- says he will be reevaluated in eight weeks, hopefully allowing him to return around the postseason.
"I don't know if a guy like Luka needs extra motivation, because I've seen him work, and how competitive he is over the years," Kleber said. "I think he was that type of person already before. But if you want to add something to it, he will be competitive, for sure."
The Associated Press and Field Level Media contributed to this report.
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