The Los Angeles Lakers shocked the basketball world nearly nine months ago, acquiring Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks.
The deal marked arguably one of the biggest trades in NBA history, as the Mavericks and general manager Nico Harrison gave up their franchise cornerstone after reaching the NBA Finals in the 2023-24 campaign. The short-term result wasn't pretty for Dallas. Fans filled American Airlines Center with “Fire Nico” chants, and the team ultimately missed the postseason following an injury-plagued second half of the season.
As for the Lakers, they fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. Now, Los Angeles will look to make a deep playoff run with Doncic and LeBron James leading the way.
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LeBron James’ response to blockbuster Lakers-Mavericks trade
ESPN's Shams Charania broke the news late on the night of Feb. 1, with fans and insiders alike immediately wondering whether he’d been hacked. According to NBA journalist Yaron Weitzman's new book, “A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers,” James had a short response to the deal, writing “WTF” in the players’ group chat.
James’ stunned reaction captured the shock that rippled across the league. He and Davis shared the court for more than five seasons, winning an NBA championship in the 2019-20 campaign — their first year together.
With James entering his 23rd season in the league, time is seemingly running out for the four-time MVP to capture a fifth title. He'll aim to do so this season alongside Doncic, who is set to be the Lakers’ franchise cornerstone for years to come.
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