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The Lakers introduced Luka Dončić on Tuesday, and the NBA superstar expressed the same shock as the rest of the basketball world about the trade that brought him to Los Angeles from Dallas.
“You can imagine how surprised I was,” Dončić said at his introductory press conference. “I was almost asleep. When I got a call, I had to check it was April 1st. I didn’t really believe it at first. It was a big shock. It was hard moments for me.”
The Lakers acquired Dončić on Saturday in exchange for power forward Anthony Davis and a first-round pick. They also sent guard Jalen Hood-Schifino to the Utah Jazz in what was a three-team deal.
Dončić is coming off a season in which he led the Mavericks to the NBA finals. In his career, Dončić has averaged 28.7 points per game, third-highest all time in NBA history. His playoff scoring average of 30.9 points per game is second only to Michael Jordan.
“Luka Dončić joining forces with the Los Angeles Lakers is a seismic event in NBA history,” Los Angeles general manager Rob Pelinka said. “When those two powerful forces come together it brings basketball joy to the world.”
As far as reasons for why the Mavericks were willing to part with a 25-year-old star who has already earned five All-NBA First Team selections, Dončić — like most in the basketball community — was at a loss.
“That’s their decision, so, I have no comment on that,” he said when asked about Dallas’ front office. “They made the decision, I don’t know why.”
Dončić added: “I thought I was going to spend my whole career [in Dallas] because loyalty is a big word for me, and I was trying to stand by that.”
Dončić also swatted away speculation that he wasn’t willing to sign an extension with the Mavericks. This summer, Dončić would have been eligible for a five-year contract with Dallas approaching $350 million in salary.
When asked if he relayed to the team he wasn’t willing to sign the extension, Dončić shook his head and said “absolutely not.”
Dončić was reserved in his first public comments with his new team. Though he repeatedly expressed excitement at joining one of the most storied franchises in NBA history, he also said the two days since the trade felt like months.
“Honestly it was hard, that first day was really hard,” Dončić said. “But every day has been better. I’m just very happy to be here for this opportunity.”
Pelinka explained the trade only occurred after the topic was broached by Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison over coffee in Dallas last month. Pelinka thanked Harrison in a statement, noting the two have a relationship going back many years to when Pelinka was an agent and Harrison was an executive at Nike.
Dončić said he received a call from new teammate LeBron James moments after the trade welcoming him to Los Angeles.
The Slovenian declined to respond to reports following the trade that painted his conditioning as a reason for Dallas wanting to part ways, saying he wanted to take the high road. But Dončić did admit the concerns about his future are a “good motive.”
When asked if he felt as if he had something to prove, Dončić did not mince words.
“Obviously,” he said. ‘Win a championship. You don’t come here for nothing except a championship.”
