Dončić Reacts to Trade: “I Was Stunned”
Slovenian basketball star Luka Dončić expressed his disbelief today, joining the global basketball community in shock over the Dallas Mavericks’ decision to trade him to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Currently in Los Angeles, Dončić is taking two days to process the surprising trade. He shared his enthusiasm for beginning a new chapter alongside LeBron James and the historic Lakers franchise.
“It was quite a shock. Those were really challenging moments for me. I even had to confirm it wasn’t April 1st. But now, I’m thrilled to be playing for the most prestigious club in the world, and I’m looking forward to this new adventure,” Dončić commented during a press conference.
He officially became a member of the Lakers today, just two days post-trade from Dallas.
The trade package includes Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris heading to the Lakers, while Anthony Davis and Max Christie will be joining Dallas.
Players of Dončić’s caliber, given his age and accolades, are typically not traded by their teams; however, the Mavericks made the surprising choice to proceed with the trade, which the Lakers hastily accepted.
“Honestly, it was tough in the beginning. That first day was particularly hard for me. It felt like those last 48 hours lasted a month. It was an emotional rollercoaster, but today feels much better. I am incredibly happy to be here and to have this opportunity. The Lakers are one of the greatest clubs in history, and I’m excited to be part of it,” shared the Slovenian player.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka was visibly excited as he met with Dončić and the media at the training facility.
“We are welcoming one of the biggest superstars in basketball and a remarkable international player to the Lakers. This is going to be something extraordinarily special—something that the NBA and basketball have never experienced before,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Dallas fans are expressing their outrage towards the management’s decision, including the father of player Saša Dončić, who lamented that his son “definitely did not deserve this.”
While Dončić has been sidelined since the Christmas holidays due to ankle injuries, he is nearing a return to the game.
News