Luka Doncic was left stunned when his phone buzzed on Saturday night with the news that the Dallas Mavericks had traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. The 25-year-old superstar had been in a calf strain, but he was already processing the emotional impact of the trade.
Doncic described the feeling as “really hard” and said he felt like he was experiencing a month’s worth of emotions in just two days. However, after meeting with his new teammates, including LeBron James, on Tuesday, Doncic expressed excitement about this new chapter in his career.
The trade was a seismic event that left many in the sports world shocked, particularly given Doncic’s incredible talent and young age. Despite being one of the most dominant players in the league, he has been made available for trade due to the Mavericks’ concerns about his work ethic and conditioning.
Doncic’s past teammates praised his dedication and competitiveness, saying he didn’t need any motivation to be great. Maxi Kleber, a veteran forward who was traded from Dallas to the Lakers, described Doncic as “competitive” and added that he would be competitive regardless of any additional motivation.
The Lakers have welcomed Doncic with open arms, and he is eager to join forces with James, his idol since childhood. When asked about the trade, LeBron said it brought him a sense of joy, stating that when Doncic plays with passion, it’s infectious.
Doncic is close to returning from his calf injury and will participate in 5-on-5 practice this week. The Lakers have four games in Los Angeles over the next seven days, and they’ll make plans for Doncic’s debut after their game against the Clippers on Tuesday night.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43691650/shocked-luka-doncic-excited-join-lakers-mavericks-trade