Luka Dončić ‘absolutely’ did not know about his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Dončić’s press conference proceeded as expected—calm and composed. If there was ever any doubt, everyone in attendance clearly understood their roles, including the other two players in the trade, Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber. Luka’s national team member, Anze Macek, who was dismissed by the Mavericks before this season, was also present, reportedly set to join the Lakers’ staff.
Rob Pelinka, General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, opened with an appreciative remark, setting the tone for the press conference. After that, the focus shifted to fit, perception, and reactions to the trade. Pelinka called the Lakers’ partnership with Doncic a seismic NBA event, and while he expressed excitement about the global prospects of “77” jerseys and evoked Kobe Bryant’s legacy (referencing the 248 obstacles and the spirit of numbers 8 & 24), Luka showed respect for both his old and new teams.
Several notable comments stood out from Luka’s introduction. The Slovenian star hinted that he had a sense of this trade coming, despite stating in his farewell message that he wanted to be a Maverick for life. “At some point, I knew this (trade) would happen, but I always take the high road,” Doncic remarked, indicating the lingering feeling of betrayal. If there was any doubt about the situation in Dallas, he certainly added fuel to the fire.
Luka was also quick to address questions about his contract extension with the Mavs. When asked if the team had reached out about a Supermax deal, his response was blunt: “Absolutely not.” He added, “If they did,