Shams Charania Reveals How Lakers Landed Luka Doncic

Here’s A Look Inside LeBron James’ Los Angeles Mansion (1:14)

Just over six months ago Luka Doncic had the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. As of yesterday he had the team ranked 9th in the West in spite of a calf injury and poised to at least challenge for a playoff spot.

So how in the world is one of the best players in the league suddenly being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers?

As impossible as it may be to believe, it was the Mavericks themselves who approached LeBron James’ side with the offer. According to Shams Charania, the Mavericks approached the Lakers and offered up Doncic in exchange for Davis. The sentiment appears to be that the Lakers are getting a “face of the franchise” while the Mavs get a player who can help them get back to the playoffs right now.”

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MAY 9: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks talks to the media after the game during the post-game press conference during Round 2 Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2024 at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

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“The Mavericks approached the Lakers recently and offered Luka Doncic, sources tell ESPN. Lakers brass met and believed the 25-year-old Doncic has the ability to be the face of their franchise for the next decade while giving Anthony Davis a win-now move in Dallas,” Charania wrote.

The Mavericks approached the Lakers recently and offered Luka Doncic, sources tell ESPN. Lakers brass met and believed the 25-year-old Doncic has the ability to be the face of their franchise for the next decade while giving Anthony Davis a win-now move in Dallas.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025

That report coincides with one that Tim MacMahon made, pointing out that the Mavericks have seemingly had enough of dealing with Doncic’s conditioning and having to struggle through another negotiation of a supermax contract at the end of the season.

“The Mavs had major concerns about moving forward with Luka Doncic due to his constant conditioning issues and the looming commitment of another supermax contract extension this summer, sources told ESPN,” MacMahon wrote.

The Mavs had major concerns about moving forward with Luka Doncic due to his constant conditioning issues and the looming commitment of another supermax contract extension this summer, sources told ESPN.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 2, 2025

LeBron James reportedly learned of the trade while he was at dinner and didn’t even know it was in the works:

“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. James was surprised by the news, is processing it and had no idea it was in the works, sources said,” Dave McMenamin wrote on X.

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. James was surprised by the news, is processing it and had no idea it was in the works, sources said.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 2, 2025

If Doncic can win a championship with the Lakers, this trade will go down as the biggest and perhaps best trade that they’ve made since landing the late-great Kobe Bryant himself in 1996.

Doncic is about to reach his sixth NBA All-Star Game and has finished top 10 in the MVP voting in each of the last five seasons. Last year he led the NBA in scoring for the first time and finished third in the MVP voting.

A night to remember for sure.