LeBron James has a new co-star for the rest of the 2024-25 season. On Saturday night, the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal that also includes Anthony Davis.
Davis and James had a great run in Los Angeles that included a national championship in 2020. While they were still a very productive duo this season, the Lakers couldn’t pass up the opportunity to acquire Doncic. He’s an MVP-caliber player who’s just 25 years old. In theory, he could be the face of the franchise for the next decade.
So, how did LeBron react to this blockbuster trade? According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, he was “surprised” by the news.
For years, James has been considered the de facto general manager for his respective teams. In this case, however, he had no idea about the Lakers making a move for Doncic. At least that’s what McMenamin is reporting.
“LeBron James learned of the Davis-Doncic trade after the Knicks game when it broke while he was out to dinner with his family, sources close to James told ESPN,” McMenamin wrote on X. “James was surprised by the news, is processing it and had no idea it was in the works.”
James turned heads earlier this weekend by having 33 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in a win over the New York Knicks. Clearly, it didn’t take long for his new teammate to steal the headlines from him.
From a talent standpoint, Doncic and James should form a lethal duo for the Lakers. They’re both incredibly versatile playmakers who can set up their teammates for easy looks at the rim.
Will this odd pairing actually work in Los Angeles though? Only time will tell.
The Lakers are in fifth place in the Western Conference at the moment. Their next game is set for Tuesday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Related: Mavericks Reveal Why They Traded Luka Doncic To Lakers