Luka Doncic on being traded by Dallas Mavericks: ‘My heart was broken, honestly’
Luka Doncic sat down with Malika Andrews on ESPN’s “NBA Today” to discuss his trade from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers and how it affected him.
The interview began with his manager showing Andrews a cracked phone, which he still uses, that Doncic had broken by throwing it after finding out that the Mavs had traded him.
Doncic and the Lakers topped the Mavs 112-97 a few games before the end of the NBA regular season in the All-NBA guard’s first trip to American Airlines Center as a visitor.
Doncic explained his feelings in the moment he found out he was being traded and why his return game against the Lakers was the best of his career.
“Sadness mostly. I was still in shock, crazy shock. I feel like my heart was broken, honestly,” said Doncic, “ I would say top one just because it was so special with the fans, with teamamates, just being there it was something I’ve never seen in my life it was just special the love between me and the fans.,” Doncic added about the first game back in Dallas with the Lakers.
Andrews asked Doncic about comments made in the closed-door meeting held by Mavs general manager Nico Harrison, and Doncic called the former Nike executive sad and said he didn’t speak with him on the night of or since the trade.
“This is sad, the way he’s talking right now, I never say anything bad about him, and I just want to move on,” said Doncic. “It’s time for me to move on from there.”
Doncic said he intended to spend his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks but will now try to help the Lakers win their first NBA title since the 2020 season.
This story was originally published April 18, 2025 at 6:09 PM.
