Mavs thought Luka Doncic was going to be a diminishing return because of his lack of competitiveness off the court

Luka has always been extremely competitive within those 48 minutes on the court. The Mavericks, however, were frustrated. Frankly, they felt like investing in him was going to be a diminishing return because of his lack of competitiveness off the court—his lack of willingness to make the year-round, around-the-clock commitment required to be the face of an NBA franchise. Yes, he has an amazing ability to put up huge numbers while playing his way into shape. But ultimately, the Mavericks did not believe that Luka Dončić was going to lead them to a championship. And that led to this shocking trade.
Source: YouTube

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Dave McMenamin @mcten
Luka Doncic has the third highest scoring average (28.6 ppg) in the regular season in NBA history behind only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain and the second highest scoring average in playoff history (30.9 ppg) behind only Jordan. – 5:13 AM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
I just can’t stop thinking about the Luka trade. How is Luka a Laker? Just insane. – 5:07 AM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
🤯🍿The sports world reacts to the Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis trade!
Describe this trade using ONE EMOJI 👇 pic.x.com/2KE6vQkUUM – 4:53 AM

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Adam Aaronson @SixersAdam
They traded Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis and one first-round pick – 4:44 AM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
The Lakers reject the City Connect jerseys in New York and not only win, they get Luka. Tell me again those unis aren’t cursed? BK – 4:42 AM

Bill Reiter @sportsreiter
Wrote for @CBSSportsNBA on the big AD-Luka trade, what we know and what we don’t, the implications and, yes, LeBron’s frustration with me and what the trade means for him cbssports.com/nba/news/luka-… – 4:27 AM

Mirjam Swanson @MirjamSwanson
You still awake? Me too.
Holy cow! Luka Doncic is coming to the Lakers!? For AD!? This is real life!?
My column: ocregister.com/2025/02/02/swa… – 4:26 AM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
During their one season together (’20-’21) as Mavericks teammates, Luka Doncic and JJ Redick’s two-man lineup had an OFFRTG of 107.8, a DEFRTG of 86.9, and a net rating of 20.9 over 77 minutes in 12 games. Can that chemistry be reignited as coach and player? Time will tell. AK – 4:21 AM

Sam Amick @sam_amick
Might this be LeBron James’ last season in Laker Land? In the wake of the stunning Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade, that question is now front and center, at @TheAthletic
nytimes.com/athletic/61063… – 4:21 AM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
Snapped these (blurry) photos back on Oct. 31, 2018. After playing against LeBron James for the first time his rookie season, Luka Doncic asked LeBron for his jersey after the game and Luka went to the Lakers’ locker room postgame to receive it from a security guard pic.x.com/RX9tODUAJF – 4:16 AM

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Tim Cato @tim_cato
i went to slovenia six years ago. it was one of the best things i’ve ever done. i’d love if you read this still. luka was more than just some guy to them, in a manner i never expected: nytimes.com/athletic/13156… – 4:16 AM

Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie
Talked for like an hour and 40 minutes about the Luka Doncic-AD trade with @AndrewJClaudio_
WHAT IN THE WORLD JUST HAPPENED? Tried to at least understand what Dallas is doing. And obviously, Lakers should be thrilled
youtube.com/live/fYzP7YL83… pic.x.com/LRhPutSvmX – 4:05 AM

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Dave McMenamin @mcten
One Western Conference exec to ESPN in the aftermath of the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade: “Rarely shocked. … Floored.” – 4:02 AM

John Karalis @John_Karalis
Trade reaction: Mavericks trade Luka Doncic to Lakers for Anthony Davis bostonsportsjournal.com/2025/02/02/tra… – 3:57 AM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Per @bball_ref, the Luka-AD trade marks just the 5th deal between the Lakers and Mavs. Others include Lamar Odom ending up in Dallas after wanting out over being part of the nixed CP3-to-LA deal, and Sean Rooks for A.C. Green before the 2000 title. AK basketball-reference.com/friv/trades.fc… – 3:53 AM

Adam Aaronson @SixersAdam
They traded 25-year-old Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis and one first-round pick. – 3:52 AM

Sam Amick @sam_amick
In Luka Doncic, the Lakers land the future ‘alpha’ they didn’t think they had.
A deeper look at the deal that – as one source put it – “might be the most stunning trade in NBA history,” and how LeBron James’ future comes into play, at @TheAthletic
nytimes.com/athletic/61063… – 3:52 AM

Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Still stunned…Really loved AD’s game and enjoyed watching him play on both sides of the ball every night
But to get Luka at age 25, should be special. He should feel disrespected by the Mavs. He’s got a chance to be a Lakes Legend, but that only comes with winning Chips – 3:49 AM

Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis is the first in-season trade in league history in which an All-NBA 1st Team selection is traded for an All-NBA 2nd Team selection. – 3:37 AM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Dallas trading Luka Doncic to Lakers for Anthony Davis #NBA
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/17… – 3:33 AM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
So if that’s the price for Luka, some team is gonna get Cam Johnson for a 3rd rounder. – 3:31 AM

Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Column: Luka Doncic is a Laker.
What? si.com/nba/luka-donci… – 3:31 AM

Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
The Anthony Davis/Luka Doncic trade was shocking.
What was also shocking: LeBron James didn’t know about it:
foxsports.com/stories/nba/wh… – 3:17 AM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
😱 STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!
🤔So…who’s stopping Luka and Lebron? pic.x.com/TdG4ru4KL0 – 3:14 AM

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Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
LeBron/AD. LeBron/Russ. KD/Booker. Giannis/Lillard. And now LeBron/Luka. The NBA All-Star Draft predicted it all, hiding in plain sight. sports.yahoo.com/luka-doncic-to… – 3:06 AM

Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
🚨 JUST PUBLISHED @YahooSports: The NBA All-Star Draft predicted the Luka-Lakers trade. And somehow just about every other mega NBA transaction, too.🔮 sports.yahoo.com/luka-doncic-to… – 3:04 AM

Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
🚨JUST PUBLISHED @YahooSports: The NBA All-Star Draft predicted the Luka-Lakers trade. And somehow just about every other mega NBA transaction, too.🔮sports.yahoo.com/luka-doncic-to… – 3:03 AM

Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
🚨 EMERGENCY PODCAST 🚨
LUKA FOR AD WTFFF
Recorded this live. Posted everywhere you get your podcasts:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7r5MY7…
YouTube: youtube.com/live/pdxBMxclP… – 3:01 AM

Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
Luka Doncic/Anthony Davis blockbuster recap
youtube.com/watch?v=r8Ehlz…
via @YouTube – 2:49 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Got a lot of logs in the fire.
Takeaways from Suns 127-108 loss at Portland.
Live blogs on Devin Booker closing in on Suns all-time scoring record and Kevin Durant itching closer to 30K career points.
And now unreal Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade?
WTH? #Suns #RipCity pic.x.com/VpMUmQLxvX – 2:44 AM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Can’t judge the Lakers until Luka is back. AK – 2:32 AM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Doncic instantly becomes the best #77 in Lakers history. BK – 2:29 AM

Ramona Shelburne @ramonashelburne
Kyrie Irving was also stunned by the Luka-AD trade. I’m told he was doing a training session in Cleveland when he saw the news come across from @ShamsCharania – 2:29 AM

Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
New BS Podcast!!!!!
Dallas out of nowhere traded 25 year-old Luka Doncic to the Lakers … WHAT IN THE HELL????
It’s a Saturday night EMERGENCY POD w/ a stunned @ryenarussillo + stupefied @RobMahoney.
open.spotify.com/episode/638swu… – 2:26 AM

Rob Mahoney @RobMahoney
Imagine thinking that Luka Doncic is a losing player. Now imagine betting the future of your franchise on it. – 2:24 AM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
AD and LeBron played nearly 300 games together.
How many will Luka and LeBron log? 📈 pic.x.com/XzW24iwmSf – 2:23 AM

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Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
New Locked on #Thunder Podcast
🏀 Aaron Wiggins scores 41
🏀 Thunder Beat Kings
🏀 Luka traded to Lakers
🏀 What happens now?
#ThunderUp #FirstListen:
linktr.ee/LockedOnThunder pic.x.com/vWbjaL4uIe – 2:12 AM

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Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“Insane. It’s crazy, crazy.”
Kevin Durant on mega Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade.
“Players are held to a different standard of loyalty and commitment to a program but the organizations don’t get held to that same standard from the outside.”
On teams following suit before Feb. pic.x.com/DekP4eRN6N – 1:51 AM

David MacKay @DavidMacKayNBA
Who would have thought that less than one full season after the Mavericks-Timberwolves NBA Finals, both Luka Doncic and Karl-Anthony Towns would get traded for pennies on the dollar. Unbelievable. – 1:39 AM

Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Lakers should trade Reaves, let Luka fill his role, and then go get a good center – 1:39 AM

Jason Walker @JasonWalkerNBA
If either were being traded, I would have wagered quite a few dollars on Trae moving on before Dallas would trade Luka. – 1:38 AM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
The full details of the Luka-AD trade 🚨
Thoughts? pic.x.com/3498oWloJC – 1:34 AM

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Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“It’s crazy man. I really don’t know what to say about it. Luka being a guy that everybody has claimed is untouchable and untradeable. The NBA shows you again.”
Devin Booker on colossal Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade.
“It’s a business. They’re always having a conversation pic.x.com/p2DdVR7u3N – 1:33 AM

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
JJ Redick’s final game in the NBA was May 11, 2021.
The teammate that took the final shot Redick was on the floor for?
It was Luka Doncic.
And now Redick will become Doncic’s coach. – 1:32 AM

David Locke @DLocke09
Who would have thought Trae Young lasted longer on the Hawks than Luka Doncic did on the Mavericks – 1:29 AM

Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
Sources: On Mavericks initiating talks with Lakers and why a Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis trade was pulled off. #haynesbriefs pic.x.com/k07Dhd2bvu – 1:27 AM

Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
The “Luka is better than Tatum” crowd must be flabbergasted – 1:24 AM

Adam Wexler @AdamJWexler
How ya feelin’ about the Luka-AD trade? pic.x.com/RioFtQrBZC – 1:22 AM

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Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Shams:
“This deal materialized in the shadows … LeBron James had no idea this was coming. Anthony Davis had no idea this was coming. I’m told Luka Doncic is still stunned about this trade.” – 1:21 AM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Since 1975, the Lakers have gone a grand total of seven seasons without a real headliner for their franchise.
Acquiring Luka assures they won’t be adding to that when LeBron retires…if he ever does – 1:19 AM

David MacKay @DavidMacKayNBA
There’s definitely more to this. Luka didn’t want out? He had no idea? LeBron had no idea? At least three of those things are bullshit. – 1:17 AM

Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Luka wasn’t going to play in Boston Thursday in the Finals rematch, but he’ll assuredly be back for the Lakers visit to TD Garden…the Saturday primetime ABC game on Saturday, March 8th.
(Get-in price already $300 for that one…watch that go up tomorrow.) – 1:13 AM

Kylen Mills @KylenMills
This is gonna be one of those “where were you when the Luka AD trade broke” moments in a decade. NO ONE saw this coming. Two franchise cornerstones with no leaks about friction with management. #nba – 1:12 AM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Shocking trade: Luka Doncic to Lakers for Anthony Davis is league-changing three-team swap
nbcsports.com/nba/news/shock… – 1:11 AM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Luka went for less than Mikal Bridges – 1:11 AM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
LeBron is getting a bonafide BUCKET in Luka Doncic 🏀 pic.x.com/X07Ad75wgD – 1:08 AM

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Kylen Mills @KylenMills
So who’s giving up the ball Lebron or Luka?! How in the world is that going to work #lakers #mavs #NBA – 1:07 AM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Building a defense around Reaves Luka and this version of Bron is gonna jack the ratings sky high – 1:05 AM

Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Would Mark Cuban have traded Luka? – 1:02 AM

Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
Here are the contracts going out in the blockbuster AD/Luka trade.
To LA Lakers:
🏀Luka Doncic ($43M, $46M and $48.9M (P))
*⃣He is extension eligible this summer: 5/$229M
🏀Maxi Kleber ($11M and $11M)
🏀Markieff Morris ($2.1M)
To Dallas:
🏀🏀Anthony Davis ($43.2M, $54.1M, – 1:02 AM

Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie
Would bet this probably leads to a 2+1 Luka extension this summer, not a 5-year extension. Best way for him to maximize money now that he’s not a supermax player. – 1:02 AM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
The Lakers are making one of the biggest — and most shocking — trades in NBA history, acquiring Luka Dončić from the Mavericks and sending Anthony Davis to Dallas in a blockbuster deal:
ocregister.com/2025/02/01/lak… – 12:59 AM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Life savings on Luka MVP 2025-26 – 12:58 AM

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
EMERGENCY EPISODE!!!! Lakers Acquire Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 12:58 AM

Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Stars playing for the Lakers feels like stars appearing in the MCU. Eventually, it seems like everyone does it. When The Athletic made its all-time Top 75 NBA players list, 9 of the top 25 had played for the Lakers. Luka Doncic could end up among those stars and he’s head to L.A. – 12:57 AM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Look man I love Anthony Davis……
This is Luka Doncic we are talking about…..
Wow….. – 12:56 AM

Erik Slater @erikslater_
Nico Harrison must be insanely high on Anthony Davis because the Mavs would’ve been offered astronomical hauls in a bidding war for Luka.
I’m absolutely floored by all of this. – 12:54 AM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
LeBron James learned of the Davis-Doncic trade after the Knicks game when it broke while he was out to dinner with his family, sources close to James told ESPN. James was surprised by the news, is processing it and had no idea it was in the works, sources said. – 12:53 AM

Vivek Jacob @vivekmjacob
I don’t know man… All the talk about NBA ratings and the Mavs hand the Lakers Luka… – 12:53 AM

Matt George @MattGeorgeSAC
I don’t want to hear a word from any of you about “Don’t Need Luka” ever again.
Mavs literally just made it real. – 12:53 AM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
🤯🚨 Luka Doncic has been TRADED to the Lakers!!
👀The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. pic.x.com/qvKjwI5CYd – 12:52 AM

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Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Jimmy watching AD and Luka getting traded pic.x.com/gvMPF3jXX0 – 12:52 AM

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Yossi Gozlan @YossiGozlan
The craziest aspect about the Lakers getting Luka Doncic is that they also get him at a discount.
That 30 percent max he’s limited to for the next three years could help give them enough time and flexibility to pursue his co-star. – 12:51 AM

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
EMERGENCY POD: We’re LIVE on the @SportingTrib’s X trying to make sense of what just happened. The Lakers just got Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris and are sending the Mavericks: Anthony Davis, Max Christie and their 2029 first round pick. x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 12:44 AM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
My Live Reaction to the Luka Doncic Trade to the Los Angeles Lakers with @HPbasketball.
Hacked

Is this Real?

Oh God it’s Real pic.x.com/QaJXzGHKPs – 12:43 AM

Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
The Mavs had major concerns about moving forward with Luka Doncic due to his constant conditioning issues and the looming commitment of another supermax contract extension this summer, sources told ESPN. – 12:31 AM

Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
There are major financial implications for Luka Doncic with this trade.
He was in line to receive a five-year $345M contract this summer.
Doncic is no longer super max eligible. – 12:24 AM

CJ McCollum @CJMcCollum
I can’t tell what’s real and fake anymore on these apps. Luka really going to the lakers or nah ? – 12:20 AM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Three-team deal that includes Utah. – 12:12 AM

Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
The downhill decel move is spreading through the NBA like an airborne virus. Just saw Bron do it at MSG. Luka Garza what have you done. – 8:55 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Trae Young tonight:
34 PTS
17 AST
2 STL
Only Luka & Harden have more 30/15a games since 2010. pic.x.com/mnP2ARaPK9 – 7:41 PM

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More on this storyline

Mavericks players were blindsided by the trade. One player, according to a source briefed on his thinking, believed Doncic would accompany Dallas on its five-game road trip. -via New York Times / February 2, 2025

Jake Fischer: Dallas had contacted several teams this week, looking to reroute additional salary for a potential three-team deal, sources said. A bunch of teams knew inklings about the Mavericks being close on a trade. -via x.com / February 2, 2025

League sources say there were concerns about his durability and availability and a belief that he could never truly be counted on as a top option in the future. And while his approval rating was high, it had not been forgotten how — in those days before the decision was made to fire former coach Darvin Ham in early May 2024 — the known threat of a possible Davis trade request loomed so large when it came to their internal calculus. The pressure on that front had been rising for quite some time. -via New York Times / February 2, 2025