Victor Wembanyama Reflects on Mavericks Fans’ Pain Over Luka Doncic Trade
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama called the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade the “craziest” one he has ever witnessed. However, what particularly stood out to him was the emotional response from Dallas Mavericks fans to the trade.
After the Los Angeles Lakers secured Doncic by sending Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick to the Mavericks, many fans in Dallas protested the trade and questioned the reasoning behind it.
Some even appealed to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, urging him to veto the deal and launch an investigation, citing how unbalanced the trade seemed in favor of the Lakers.
Speaking at the All-Star Media Day on Saturday, Wembanyama shared his thoughts on the Doncic-Davis deal and the heartache felt by Mavericks supporters after losing their franchise star.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic in action during his LA debut against the Jazz. © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Lakers guard Luka Doncic in action during his LA debut against the Jazz. © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
“What really stands out to me is how deeply hurt Mavs fans are, how they feel,” Wembanyama said, according to ClutchPoints.
“It’s clear this was an intense emotion. Otherwise, the Mavs are still contenders, and the Lakers are still contenders… Two weeks later, it’s still the wildest trade I’ve ever seen.”
Numerous rumors have circulated regarding the reasons behind the Mavs’ decision to trade Luka Doncic, with the main explanation being Dallas’ concerns over his conditioning issues and their reluctance to commit to a supermax contract worth $346 million.
Regardless of the reason, many Mavericks fans were not happy with the trade, and Victor Wembanyama could feel their disappointment.