Luka Doncic was supposed to be the future of the Dallas Mavericks. However, after six and a half years with the franchise, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas. The front office justified the decision as a defensive upgrade.
Although he has already adapted to his new reality, Doncic admitted in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that returning to the American Airlines Center will always feel strange. He said he doesn’t know if he will ever find closure and is certain it will never stop feeling odd.
The February 2 trade shook the NBA. Nobody expected Doncic to be part of a deal involving the Mavericks, Lakers, and Utah Jazz. As Shams Charania first reported, the news shocked both players and fans.
Doncic said he didn’t know how to react, what to do, or what to say. He described it as a huge impact, explained that Dallas felt like home, mentioned he had many friends there, and highlighted how the fans had always supported him. He added that he never wanted to disappoint either the Dallas or Lakers fanbases.
Months later, the Slovenian star admits the surprise still lingers. The move ended the notion that he was untouchable and reignited the debate around star player stability in the NBA.
Dallas had built its roster around Doncic, pairing him with Kyrie Irving in the backcourt. His connection to the city was so strong that, in an interview with Malika Andrews on ESPN, he once stated that his intention was to spend his entire career with the Mavericks, calling it an easy answer at the time.
The trade shattered those expectations and sparked outrage among fans. In his farewell message, Doncic wrote that as he moved into the next chapter of his basketball journey, he was leaving behind a city that would always feel like a home away from home. He described Dallas as a special place and Mavericks supporters as special fans.
Now, at 26 years old, Doncic faces his future with the Lakers alongside LeBron James. The challenge is massive: to restore the Los Angeles franchise to the top of the league. Time will tell whether this will be the final stop of his career or just another chapter, but one thing is certain—Doncic will continue to showcase his talent at Crypto.com Arena.
