LeBron James Reflects on Blockbuster Trade: Luka Doncic Joins the Lakers
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers have always been a team that thrives on star power, and their latest acquisition is no exception. When LeBron James took his seat on the bench during the first quarter of Tuesday’s 122-97 win over the Clippers, he was joined by a new superstar teammate. The spot once occupied by Anthony Davis now had Luka Doncic sitting there, marking a new era for the Lakers.
The NBA’s ever-turning wheel of talent has brought Doncic to Los Angeles in a trade that has sent shockwaves through the league. Initially, the three-team trade involving the Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Utah Jazz seemed like a “hoax” to many, including James himself. But as reality set in, the absence of Davis, who had been by James’ side for six seasons, became palpable.
“It still pretty much didn’t seem real until I saw Luka today and I saw a clip of AD at the Dallas shootaround,” James said after the game. “That’s when it finally hit me, like, ‘Oh s—, this is real.'”
James made his first public comments about the trade in the Lakers locker room at Intuit Dome, signaling his acceptance of the new reality. “If I had concerns about it, I’d waive my no-trade clause and get up out of here,” James stated. “I’m here right now. I’m committed to the Lakers organization.”
As a leader and captain of the team, James emphasized his role in ensuring a smooth transition for the new acquisitions. He recounted a late-night dinner after the Lakers’ win against the New York Knicks on Saturday, where he first heard the news of the trade. The Lakers sent out Davis, Max Christie, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and a future first-round pick to bring in Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris.
“My emotions were all over the place, obviously,” James said. “We had just come off a big win. A huge win in the Garden. I was out with my family at dinner and got the news and the first time I heard it, I thought it was for sure fake. I thought it was a hoax, people messing around or whatever. But then when AD called me, AD FaceTimed me and I talked to him for quite a while, and even when I got off the phone with him, it still didn’t seem real.”
James described the video call with Davis as a “weird, uncomfortable, truth moment,” acknowledging the difficulty of parting ways with his long-time teammate. The trade, which marked the first time in history two current All-NBA players were swapped midseason, initially caught James off guard. However, he understood the Lakers’ motivation behind the move.
“It was shocking when I heard the news, but at the end of the day, I understand the business of basketball,” he said. “But I didn’t make the decision.”
James and Davis had an undeniable chemistry, winning a championship together in their first season in 2019-20. While some have speculated about potential positional redundancies between James and Doncic, James dismissed these concerns.
“[We can be] whatever we want it to be,” James said. “It won’t take long. I can play with anybody, and I think he can, as well. So, we’ll work well together.”
Even James’ former coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tyronn Lue, now with the Clippers, echoed this sentiment. “I don’t see it’s going to be a problem at all,” Lue said. “[Lakers coach] JJ [Redick] will do a good job of staggering those guys, kind of like we did with Kyrie [Irving] and LeBron for three quarters and then close games together.”
The Lakers are currently causing problems for their opponents, with wins in nine of their past 11 games, climbing to a game behind the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference standings. The addition of the 25-year-old dynamo Doncic is expected to further bolster their performance, with sources indicating that Doncic is “trending towards” making his Lakers debut on Saturday against the visiting Indiana Pacers.
“Luka’s been my favorite player in the NBA for a while now,” James said. “I think you guys know that. And I’ve always just tried to play the game the right way and inspire the next generation. And Luka happens to be one of them. And now, we’re teammates. So, it’ll be a very seamless transition.”
- LeBron James and Luka Doncic are now teammates.
- The trade involved the Lakers, Mavericks, and Jazz.
- Anthony Davis was traded to the Mavericks.
- The Lakers have won nine of their past 11 games.
- Luka Doncic is expected to debut against the Pacers.
Originally Written by: Dave McMenamin
