Luka Doncic reflects on trade: “My heart broke”

On February 1, 2025, the unthinkable happened: Luka Doncic was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in what has become one of the most seismic moves in NBA history. Now, two months later, the Slovenian superstar is leading the Lakers into the playoffs as the third seed in the Western Conference with 51 wins – their best season since they won the title in 2020.

They’re not favorites, but they are contenders. Their first-round opponent? The Minnesota Timberwolves, with home-court advantage now belonging to Doncic’s new team.

Back in Dallas, the aftermath has been brutal. The Mavericks have spiraled, sliding into the play-in tournament and launching what many see as a smear campaign to justify the unjustifiable – trading away the NBA’s biggest political and commercial asset to the league’s largest market.

At the center of the storm is general manager Nico Harrison, the architect of the trade, who has offered little more than deflection and the repeated line that “this was the best move for the Mavericks.” His position, surprisingly, remains intact under team owners Patrick Dumont and the Adelson family, whose links to the betting industry have added another layer of discomfort to the situation.

Doncic’s return to Dallas: tears, ovations, and a 45-point statement

Doncic’s first visit back to Dallas since the trade was nothing short of historic. The scoreboard tribute moved him to tears. The fans rose in unison to cheer their former hero – and to chant for Harrison’s dismissal. It was a moment of pure emotion that made one thing abundantly clear: Doncic didn’t want to leave, and Dallas didn’t want him to go.

That night, Doncic dropped 45 points, calling it “one of the most important games of my career” – not just for what he did on the court, but for everything it represented.

“I was in bed. I thought it was an April Fool’s joke.”

In a candid interview with Malika Andrews ahead of the playoffs, Doncic revealed how he found out about the trade: lying in bed, watching a movie on his iPad. “I was sad. I was shocked. My heart broke,” he said. Believing it was a prank, he reportedly asked multiple times if it was a joke, before hurling his phone to the floor and breaking it.

His manager, Lara Beth Seager, even showed Andrews the shattered phone during the interview.

“I really thought I’d finish my career in Dallas,” Doncic admitted. He hasn’t spoken a word to Harrison since the move and avoided getting drawn into the Mavericks’ criticism of him in the media.

“It’s sad, but I have to move forward,” he said. “I’ve never said anything bad about Nico Harrison. I just want to move on. I’ll always carry the fans and my teammates in my heart. That’s what I want to focus on.”

A new journey in purple and gold

Doncic confirmed that he’s open to staying long-term in Los Angeles. He has one more year on his contract, a player option after that, and the possibility of signing a four-year extension this August.

“Yes,” he answered simply when asked if he sees his future with the Lakers.

He also reflected on moments from his past season – including his buzzer-beater over Rudy Gobert and the Finals loss to the Celtics – and praised LeBron James as a teammate.

“The things they’re saying hurt. But I’m focused on my journey.”

Doncic refused to respond directly to the Mavericks’ campaign to discredit him. “It all seems to be coming from Dallas,” he said. “So I’d rather not comment. I try not to read much. I’m focused on my journey.” A journey, he insists, that had a very special chapter in Dallas – one he’s only now fully able to talk about, more than two months after the deal that stunned the basketball world.

The playoffs begin now. Luka is ready. With the Lakers.

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