Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic’s trade was well over a month ago but it’s still fresh on people’s minds.
LeBron James Dishes On ‘Shock’ Lakers-Luka Doncic Trade
Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont and Mavericks president Nico Harrison have already stated their case for making the trade, their comments controversial to say the least.
Former Mavs owner Mark Cuban can’t wrap his mind around it though. Former Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki still sounds sick about it too. Current Mavs star Kyrie Irving has made multiple statements about it. Mavs head coach Jason Kidd, once traded by Dallas himself, has relayed his thoughts.
During Tuesday’s matchup against the New York Knicks, Mavericks CEO Rick Welts also gave this message to the fans:
“Time —wins and losses —will tell whether this was a good deal or a bad deal. I’m just going to promise to our fans right now, whatever trust we have lost… we’re gonna earn it back.
Mavericks CEO Rick Wells:
“The trust we have lost, we’re gonna earn it back. We’re going to win Championships!”
He was interviewed during the game tonight vs. the New York Knicks. pic.twitter.com/HERR1kOWGo— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) March 26, 2025
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“We’re going to do this the right way and we’re going to win championships!”
On Wednesday, Lakers superstar LeBron James made a live appearance on the Pat McAfee Show and had this to say:
“I can’t put myself in his shoes because I’ve never been traded before.”
“Luka Doncic committed to a franchise for seven years and that was his comfort..
Out of nowhere you get traded and that’s a shock to your system..
I had to let him know that we’ll figure it out because we need him to be who he is” ~ @KingJames #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/kPEIag0MID
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 26, 2025
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“But I can have a sense and be a human being to know you commit to a franchise for seven years and you feel like, this is the place I’m going to be, this is my comfort… and then of nowhere you get traded.
…That’s a shock to your system.”
Confidence Builders
Doncic isn’t the only Lakers player that needed a jump after the NBA trade deadline.
Dalton Knecht, the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, wasn’t feeling quite like himself following a voided deal that would have sent him to the Charlotte Hornets. Markieff Morris, who James pushed to be included in the Doncic trade according to brother Marcus Morris, was there to provide the pick-me-up in that instance.
Morris may have shared the same message with Doncic. However, James has endeavored to make him as comfortable as possible too. “He has to fit out,” he tells McAfee.
Role Reversal
James’s words were more than sweet nothings.
Similar to Dwyane Wade giving him the keys to the Miami Heat, James has been playing more receiver than quarterback in order to help smooth the transition for Doncic. He’s still arguably the best facilitator on the team, especially when factoring in his experience level. Nevertheless, his skillset and physical attributes give him an advantage as a play-finisher.
It’s worked out well thus far.
James is shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from 3 on passes from Doncic. In the 13 games they’ve played together, Doncic has already assisted on 39 of James’s field goals, the fifth-highest on the team. The prodigious playmaker is on pace bypass D’Angelo Russell’s mark (43 assists) in 14 fewer games.
It’s all but a reversal of the roles that James had with Anthony Davis. To that point, he dished out 100 assists to Davis this season alone, more helpers than he gave any teammate. With that in mind, the seasoned superstar did make sure to express his feelings about his former running mate:
“I lost a dear friend and a great friend and champion duo with AD. You know, miss him to death.”
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