Luka Doncic excited to participate in Lakers, says trade was a ‘big shock’

El Segundo, California – Luka Doncic slept almost last Saturday night in Dallas when his phone buzzed. Only then did he learn that Mavericks had just stunned the sports world by shopping with him to Los Angeles Lakers.

“You can imagine how surprised I was,” Doncic said. “I had to check if it was April 1st. I didn’t really believe it.”

The superstar has begun to recover after that shock after his first two days in LA, and he is becoming increasingly excited about a new chapter with LeBron James and his famous new team on the west coast.

And while his past and future teammates say Doncic has never lacked motivation to be great, he now has all the fuel he ever needs after Maverick’s inherently questioned his talent and determination by doing the seismic trade .

“It was a big shock,” Doncic said. “(Dallas) was at home, so it was really tough moments for me. … (but now) I get the game in the biggest club in the world and I’m excited about this new journey.

“… I will say that I always take the highway. I had my amazing moments in Dallas with all my teammates, coaches and most importantly the fans. They always supported me and it was an amazing journey.”

Lakers formally welcomed Doncic on Tuesday, less than three days after they traded Anthony Davis and Max Christie in a three -team agreement for the Slovenian goal scorer who won his first scoring title last season before leading Mavs to NBA Finals. Doncic is a five-time all-NBA selection and a five-time all-star.

Stars in Doncic’s age and results are almost never traded in any sport, and especially not in such a sudden way. But when Dallas decided to move on from his 25-year-old centerpiece, Laker’s eager Davis-a Basketball’s best big men to make it happen.

Doncic is still treating the upheaval, but he already sees the unlimited upside of a career in Los Angeles beginning with James, 40, top scorer in the NBA story.

“Honestly, it was difficult at first,” Doncic said. “The first day was really tough. I felt that the last 48 hours were a month. Emotionally it was really hard but today was much better. This is lakers. It’s one of the best clubs in the story, so I’m excited to be here.

Had Doncic stayed in Dallas, he was eligible for a five-year-old, $ 345 million SuperMax deal from Mavericks. Now he is not eligible for such a contract.

When asked whether he or his representatives had indicated for Mavericks that he would not sign a supermax extension to stay with Dallas, Doncic was emphatically that he had not done so.

“Definitely not,” he said.

Laker’s General Manager Rob Pelinka did not hide his joy at Landing Doncic when they met with the media at Lakers’ training complex on Tuesday. In his typical flowering discourse style, Pelinka said Doncic’s arrival would bring “Basketball joy to the world.”

“I think Luka Doncic goes with Los Angeles Lakers is a seismic event in the NBA story.” Said Pelinka. “… We have a 25-year-old global superstar who comes on stage with the most popular and influential basketball brand on the globe. And I think that when these two powerful forces meet it brings basketball joy to the world because it is That’s how Luka plays.

Although James was blinded by the deal with the rest of the NBA, he quickly called Doncic to welcome him to Lakers. Doncic has often described James as his idol.

“It’s like a dream come true,” Doncic said. “I always looked up to him. There are so many things I can learn from him and I’m just excited to learn everything and get to play with him. It’s a great feeling.”

Doncic has not played since Christmas because of a veal strain, but he is close to a return. He will participate in 5-to-5 work on practice on Wednesday, and Lakers will make a plan for Doncic’s debut afterwards.

Lakers have four matches in the Los Angeles area for the next seven days with a road camp against Clippers Tuesday night, followed by three straight home matches.

The trade caused a rebellion in the sports world, leaving most of Mavs -fans furious – including Doncic’s father, Sasa, who said his son “absolutely did not deserve this.”

The basketball world was also confused by how quiet lakers and mavericks held the conversations. Pelinka was clearly proud to keep a lid on these negotiations that began at a coffee shop with Dallas GM Nico Harrison, a long -time friend.

Some of the league’s biggest names – names that, like Doncic, would generally be considered pristine in trades – have reacted in completely unbelievers.

“Especially with (Dallas) coming from the final, it’s a reminder that there are only a few in this league that can go to sleep with any kind of confidence that you will still be there,” said Golden State Guard Stephen Curry. “It’s a bit of a very unique situation everywhere.”

Minnesota -vagt Anthony Edwards added: “They probably acted the best goal scorer in the NBA at 25. And he didn’t know about it. There’s much more to dig someone to do to find out why he was traded. You’re shopping him at 25. He just went to the final.

Utah Jazz helped facilitate trade and will get Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 draft of the second round via Clippers from Lakers. Dallas also sends a 2025 election in the second round to Utah.

Lakers acquired Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris from Dallas in the trade. Both praised Doncic’s work ethics and leadership – and both LO of the widespread view that the MAVs were irreparably concerned about Doncic’s conditioning and work ethics.

“I hear things that he’s not in shape, but if you can go in an NBA game and get 30 and 15 and 10 as if it’s nothing, I don’t really know what form is,” Morris said . “You’ll see it really soon. You’ll do (determination) if he’s in shape or not.”

Morris returns to Lakers after winning a championship ring with the team in the Florida bubble in 2020. He said Mavs informed him that he had been traded on Saturday night but not where he should – he learned it on TV and social media.

Kleber is on crutches after operating on his broken right foot. The German veteran-best known in LA to hit a particularly spectacular 3-point at the Summer to beat Lakers in March 2023-Siger that he will be reassessed in eight weeks, hopefully allows him to return around the autumn period.

“I don’t know if a guy like Luka needs extra motivation because I’ve seen him work and how competitive he is over the years,” Kleber said. “I think he was the type of person already before. But if you want to add something to it, he will be competitive, for sure.”

Associated Press and Media at Field Level contributed to this report.