Luka Doncic made his first public comments since the shocking middle-of-the-night trade that sent him to Hollywood.
The Mavericks dealt Doncic to the Lakers in a deal that sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick to Dallas.
Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris are also going to the Lakers, while the Jazz were also involved in the trade and acquired Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-round pick that belonged to the Clippers and a 2025 second-round pick that had been the Mavericks.
In a message to Mavericks fans, which he posted to social media on Sunday night, Doncic thanked them for all their support over the years.
“Seven years ago, I came here as a teenager to pursue my dream of playing basketball at the highest level. I thought I’d spend my career here and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship,” he wrote. “The love and support you all have given me is more than I could have ever dreamed of. For a young kid from Slovenia coming to the U.S. for the first time, you made North Texas feel like home. In good times and bad, from injuries to the NBA Finals, your support never changed. Thank you not only for sharing my joy in our best moments, but also for lifting me up when I needed it most.”
The trade, one of the biggest in recent memory in the NBA, has led to shock from across the sports world and anger from Mavericks fans.
The reaction to the trade has been so swift that Mavs fans protested the deal outside American Airlines Center on Sunday.
The fan-led revolt started at the statute of Dirk Nowitzki and eventually moved to the front steps of the arena after security arrived to take apart a display that had been set up with Doncic merchandise.
“As I start the next part of my basketball journey, I am leaving a city that will always feel like a home away from home. Dallas is a special place, and Mavs fans are special fans. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart,” Doncic concluded his message by saying.
In a separate post, he expressed excitement about becoming a part of the Lakers.
“Grateful for this amazing opportunity. Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play the game, I’ll do so with the same joy, passion and goal – to win championships,” Doncic wrote.
Doncic has become one of the best players in the league since being drafted No. 3 overall in 2018 by the Mavericks and led the team to an NBA Finals appearance last season.
He’s been named to the All-NBA First Team in each of the last five seasons and he won Rookie of the Year his first season in the league.
Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison defended the trade earlier in the day on Sunday, explaining that he felt it was a move that made the organization stronger, according to the Dallas Morning News.
“I’m sorry they’re frustrated, but it’s something that we believe in as an organization that’s going to make us better and we believe that it sets us up to win not only now, but also in the future,” Harrison said. “When we win, I believe the frustration will go away.”
Doncic is currently nursing a left calf strain that has kept him off the court for the last month and ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that he’s expected to be playing before the Feb, 16 All-Star Game.
