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Luka Doncic sends heartfelt message to Dallas Mavericks fans after Lakers trade

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•02/02/25
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Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Shocking news went through the sports world early Sunday morning, as the Dallas Mavericks decided to trade Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers for Anthony Davis. The news stunned the sports world and plenty of people around the NBA. On Sunday evening, Doncic released a heartfelt statement to the Dallas Mavericks fans.

“Seven years ago, I came here as a teenager to pursue my dream of playing basketball at the highest level. I thought I’d spend my career here and I wanted to badly to bring you a championship. The love and support you all have given me is more than I could have ever dreamed of. For a young kid from Slovenia coming to the U.S. for the first time, you made North Texas feel like home. In good times and bad, from injuries to the NBA Finals, your support never changed. Thank you not only for sharing my joy in our best moments, but also for lifting me up when I needed it most,” Doncic wrote in his statement.

“To all the organizations I’ve worked with throughout the Dallas community, thank you for letting me contribute to your important work in bringing light to those who need it. As I start the next part of my basketball journey, I am leaving a city that will always feel like a home away from home. Dallas is a special place, and Mavs fans are special fans. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. –Luka,” Doncic finished.

More details on the Luka Doncic trade

The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on early Sunday morning (after midnight).

The three-team deal includes the LA Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Utah Jazz. The Jazz will get Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2025 second round pick via the LA Clippers, and a 2025 second round pick via the Dallas Mavericks.

It’ll go down as one of the more shocking and surprising trades in league history, no doubt about it. From the sounds of it, all of the parties involved in the trade were surprised by it, too.

The biggest piece of the trade is unquestionably Luka Doncic, who has been without a doubt, one of the best players in the NBA for several years now. He’s been averaging 28.1 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, and 7.8 assists per game, while drilling 35.4% percent of his shots from beyond-the-arc. He’s also hitting 46.4 % of his shots from the field.

He’s been dealing with a left calf strain this season, receiving multiple opinions on the injury in late December before the Mavericks made any decisions about his timeline to return. He was ruled out of Dallas’ Christmas Day game shortly after he went to the locker room with the injury and was seen on crutches after the game. He has not played at all for the Mavericks since Christmas.

Last season, Doncic and Kyrie Irving propelled the Mavericks to their third NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, where they lost to the Boston Celtics. Doncic also earned Western Conference Finals MVP honors in the process.