Luka Dončić on shock of trade to Los Angeles Lakers: ‘Imagine how surprised I was’
CNN
NBA superstar Luka Dončić has revealed that he was as shocked as anyone to hear that the Dallas Mavericks were trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the most stunning deals in NBA history.
NBA superstar Luka Dončić has revealed that he was as shocked as anyone to hear that the Dallas Mavericks were trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the most stunning deals in NBA history. “Everyone was surprised, so you can imagine how surprised I was,” he said at a press conference introducing him as a Lakers player Tuesday. “I was almost asleep. So when I got a call, I had to check (whether) it was April 1, I didn’t really believe it at first. “It was a big shock. It was hard moments for me. (Dallas) was home, so it was really hard moments for me, especially the first day.” According to Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison approached him with the idea of a potential trade, with the two meeting for coffee in Dallas. The subsequent talks lasted three weeks, and the only people who knew about the potential trade were the two general managers and team ownership, Pelinka said. The Lakers and Mavericks completed the move on Sunday, with Anthony Davis moving in the opposite direction as part of a three-team trade with the Utah Jazz.