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LeBron James offered his perspective on the Los Angeles Lakers' blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic, describing the situation as a “shock to the system” during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday.
The Lakers acquired Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 2 in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. The move, which sent shockwaves through the league, brought Doncic to Los Angeles after spending seven seasons with Dallas.
“I can't put myself in his shoes because I've never been traded before,” James said. “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 where I'm going to be.' And then out of nowhere, bam, you just get traded. I don't give a damn where you're going… That's a shock to your system.”
LeBron James offers sympathy for Luka Doncic’s move from Mavs to Lakers
Doncic, originally selected No. 3 overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2018 NBA Draft and then traded to Dallas on draft night, quickly became the face of the Mavericks franchise. Over seven seasons, he earned five All-Star selections, five All-NBA First Team honors, the 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year award, and led Dallas to two Western Conference Finals and an NBA Finals appearance in 2024, where they fell to the Boston Celtics in five games.
Despite his success, Dallas opted to restructure its roster by dealing Doncic, along with Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber, to the Lakers. Since the trade, Doncic has appeared in 18 games for Los Angeles following a two-month absence due to a left calf strain. He is averaging 27.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 41.2% from the field and 36.5% from beyond the arc as a Laker.
The Lakers, now 43-28, have benefited from Doncic's presence but are currently looking to bounce back from a three-game losing streak amid LeBron James' return from injury. They are scheduled to face the Indiana Pacers (42-29) on Wednesday night as part of their four-game road trip. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Los Angeles remains one game behind the Denver Nuggets (45-28) for the third seed in the Western Conference standings as the regular season nears its conclusion. With Doncic now a critical piece in their playoff push, James’ comments provide a glimpse into the emotional toll such trades can take, even as both teams continue adjusting to the ramifications of February's high-profile transaction.
