Since the 2018 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks have witnessed Luka Doncic’s immense impact on the team, the city, and its fans. He was viewed as the next face of the franchise. However, in a move no one saw coming, Dallas sent him to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick.
NBA insider Shams Charania first reported the news, and while many initially thought it was a mistake or even a hoax, the Mavericks officially confirmed the deal on Saturday night. Following that, fans couldn’t hold back their frustration.
By Sunday morning, Mavericks fans were already making their voices heard. In a public protest outside the American Airlines Center, some fans brought a coffin and played the song “See You Again” as they believed it to be the end of Dallas’s dominance.
Dallas Mavericks fans brought a coffin outside American Airlines Center, the Mavericks’ home arena, while playing “See You Again” in protest of the Luka Doncic trade pic.twitter.com/nvtO4QjPko
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) February 2, 2025
Reports revealed that the Mavericks approached the Lakers first with the trade offer. Even more surprising, the organization never informed Doncic before finalizing the deal. The trade felt like an unexpected and unfair ending for a player who had dedicated himself to the franchise.
Lakers GM Thought Mavericks Were Joking About Trading Luka Doncic
The Mavs were adamant about cutting ties with Luka Doncic. Before the Lakers, they even approached at least one other team to trade Luka. One of the most surprising details of the trade talks came when Mavericks GM Nico Harrison reached out to Lakers GM Rob Pelinka about a deal one month ago. Upon hearing the proposal, Pelinka couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Nah… you’re joking, right?” Pelinka reportedly said.
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By all accounts, Luka was happy in Dallas and remained committed to the team. He had been working to recover from injuries, determined to get back in form and help the Mavericks compete. Despite this, Dallas took the first step in ending the relationship by trading him mid-season.
