On February 2nd the NBA world woke up to what many believed to be the strangest trade in NBA history after superstar Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks. Fans around the world were stunned to wake up on Groundhog day to see the 2024 Scoring Champion, 5x All-Star and All-NBA player get shipped out of the team he took to the NBA Finals just a season ago.
Luka Doncic has been a force in the NBA ever since being taken third overall in the 2018 NBA Draft and has only put up an astonishing resumé in his short time in the league.
- 2024 NBA Scoring Champion
- 5x NBA All-Star
- 5x NBA All-NBA First Team
- 5x NBA Player of the Month
- NBA Rookie of the Year 2019
Luka Doncic this season:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 10, 2025
28.1 PPG (4th in NBA)
8.3 RPG
7.8 APG
2.0 SPG (3rd)
Tonight he's back... and playing for the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/PmUxBvMiad
Doncic was involved in a three team trade between the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Utah Jazz, with the other biggest piece in this trade involving four time All-NBA power forward/center Anthony Davis.
Davis has an assortment of accolades as well, which is a big reason why he was the centerpiece in this trade in order for the Lakers to obtain Doncic.
- 2020 NBA Finals champion with Lakers
- 10x NBA All-Star
- NBA All-Star game MVP
- 3x NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 3x NBA Blocks leader
Trade Breakdown
Lakers received: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber,Markieff Morris
Mavericks received: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, Lakers 2029 first-round pick
Utah Jazz received: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick, Mavericks 2025 second-round pick
While the majority of Mavericks fans are still in protest and disbelief, especially after Davis suffered a non-contact injury in his Mavericks debut, all eyes will be on Luka Doncic tonight as he is set to make his Lakers debut after suffering a calf injury on Christmas Day and has not played since. Somehow someway the Lakers always manage to get a generational talent every decade or so and Doncic fits this criteria perfectly. It will be interesting to see how much he plays tonight given his calf injury has kept him out two months but many expect the young star to not lose a step, especially since he is now teammates with LeBron James. Even if Doncic has a minutes restriction tonight (which would be the smart move), Lakers fans will sleep easy knowing they have their successor once LeBron retires. The only factor about the Lakers starting lineup that will give fans concern is their lack of size at the center position, but I have no doubt any Lakers fans are upset that Rob Pelinka made the trade of the decade.
Legends in their first game as a Laker:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 10, 2025
Shaq — 23 PTS | 14 REB | 2 BLK
Magic — 26 PTS | 8 REB | 4 BLK
LeBron — 26 PTS | 12 REB | 6 AST
Davis — 25 PTS | 9 REB | 5 AST
Kareem — 27 PTS | 20 REB | 5 AST
West — 20 PTS | 5 AST
Wilt — 15 PTS | 17 REB | 5 AST
What will Luka put up? pic.twitter.com/vYyotKo74P
