Reactions have flowed in following the recent trade that saw Luka Doncic move to the Los Angeles Lakers, while Anthony Davis made his way to the Dallas Mavericks.
“Thanks for everything,” Doncic expressed in a group chat with Mavericks players, reflecting on his time with the team, as reported by local media.
His father, Sasa Doncic, shared his thoughts on Slovenian television, stating, “Luka absolutely did not deserve this. He sacrificed a lot. He really respected Dallas. Luka respected the whole city.”
Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff commented on the trade, stating, “I was surprised. I’ll say that. But it’s the league — and that’s what makes the league so amazing. You don’t know what’s going to happen. Each organization has its own plan, but all 30 teams are chasing the same goal, which makes it so fun.”
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka emphasized the commitment to building a competitive roster, saying, “We will be relentless in building a roster around the on-court vision Coach (J.J.) Redick has for this basketball team, and we are grateful for today and look forward to what’s next.”
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd highlighted the importance of defense, stating, “Defense wins championships. AD is the one that we truly believe fits. … Our focus is on the window to win now.”
Commenting on the star players involved, Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan remarked, “It’s obviously two great players that have had incredible success with teams, and they’ve both had significant individual success too. Luka’s impact early in his career has been profound.”
Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison acknowledged the significance of the trade, saying, “We definitely understand the magnitude of what just transpired. It’s not lost on us. We would like to thank Luka for his brilliance.”
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson shared his excitement at the prospect of star players teaming up, saying, “For the fan, it’s fascinating. It’s a positive thing for the league. We should all look forward to seeing what AD and Kyrie can do together.”
Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers voiced his surprise, stating, “Just like everyone else, I thought it was AI-generated. Then I found out it was real. It’s just a shocking trade. Two teams thought they could make themselves better, and usually one will be right.”
Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla bluntly stated, “Don’t ask about the trades. I don’t really care.”
Meanwhile, Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse reflected, “Unprecedented, right? It’s surprising, for sure, but there have been many stars moving around in recent years. My focus is on my own team.”
NBA analyst Charles Barkley remarked on NBA TV, “The Mavs clearly had to make a decision this summer whether to commit five years and $350 million to him. That’s a lot for a player with fitness concerns. He’s a great player, but they must know something we don’t.”
Cleveland center Tristan Thompson speculated about potential underlying issues behind the trade, saying, “Luka getting traded from Dallas has to have a deeper story behind it. This doesn’t just happen on a random Saturday night.”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, spotted at Mavs games sometimes, reacted simply, “Wait what?”
