It’s been a crazy few days in the NBA, since one of the league’s biggest trade deals ever went down on Saturday, February 1, bringing Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks.
The Lakers are sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round draft pick to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in a three-team deal that also features the Utah Jazz.
Now, Doncic will be on the same team as the great LeBron James. Or, will he? The trade deadline is looming, so some Lakers fans have been wondering if James might jump ship.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers
According to multiple reports, four-time NBA champion LeBron James has made the decision to stay with the Lakers.
“James doesn’t appear to want a quick exit from the Lakers in the aftermath of a blockbuster, mind-melting three-team trade that sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round draft pick to Dallas in exchange for Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris. By sticking around, the 40-year-old forward will have a chance to pair up with Doncic as an All-Star duo,” NBA analyst and expert Kari Anderson noted in a February 2 feature for Yahoo! Sports.
James inked a two-year, $104 million deal last summer, and he has a player option for the 2025-26 season and a full no-trade clause, so the Lakers wouldn’t be able to him without his approval.
Luka Doncic Breaks Silence on Trade
Perhaps nobody was more surprised about this blockbuster trade as Doncic himself.
“Luka Doncic was nearly asleep last Saturday night in Dallas when his phone buzzed,” ESPN stated in a February 4 feature. “Only then did he learn that the Mavericks had just stunned the sports world by trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers.”
During a press conference about the move, Doncic said, “You can imagine how surprised I was. I had to check if it was April 1. I didn’t really believe it.”
Doncic added that “It was a big shock” and that 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.”
He added, “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.”
Doncic was really honest about the trade, too, and said that he’s still trying to wrap his head around the whole thing. But, now, Doncic sees that it’s going to be exciting to be with a legendary franchise like the Lakers. Plus, he gets to play with James, a legend.
“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.”