Approximately two and a half months after being traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers, Luka Doncic spoke with ESPN’s Malika Andrews ahead of the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
During the interview, Doncic revealed that he has not had any communication with Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison since the trade. Earlier in the week, Harrison, in his first interaction with select Dallas-based media in over two months, stated that he had “no regrets” about the trade. When questioned about why he believed the Doncic-led core that reached the NBA Finals the previous season was not capable of winning a championship, Harrison reiterated the adage, “defense wins championships.”
Lakers’ Luka Doncic Responds to Harrison’s Criticism
Andrews asked Doncic for his reaction to Harrison’s comments.
“It’s just sad the way he’s talking right now,” the Lakers’ star remarked (as reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com). “I never say anything bad about him, and I just want to move on. The fans, my ex-teammates, I’ll always keep at heart. It’s time for me to move on from there.”
Doncic acknowledged that the trade was difficult to process initially. He described throwing his phone across the room, causing it to crack, upon learning of the news, and repeatedly questioning whether it was an early “April 1st” joke.
“Sadness, mostly,” Doncic said of his initial feelings. “I was still in shock. Like, crazy shock. I felt like my heart was broken, honestly.”
Following the trade, numerous reports from Dallas suggested that the Mavericks had concerns regarding Doncic’s work ethic, diet, and conditioning. Despite the impossibility of completely avoiding these reports, Doncic stated that he attempted to disregard them and concentrate on his new team, rather than dwelling on the issues that arose with the Mavericks.
“I mean it’s painful, depending on how you take it,” Doncic stated. “It mostly came from Dallas, so I didn’t want to talk back. But I don’t really read that much stuff. I’m just trying to focus on my journey.”
When asked by Andrews if he had ever envisioned playing his entire career in Dallas before the trade, Doncic responded, “Of course. That’s an easy question.”
While he is no longer eligible for the five-year super-max extension that the Mavericks could have offered him this summer, Doncic will have the opportunity to sign a new contract with the Lakers this offseason. This contract could be worth a projected $229 million over four years, commencing in the 2026/27 season.
It remains uncertain whether the 26-year-old will favor this long-term extension or a shorter-term contract that would provide him with greater flexibility to maximize his future earnings. However, Doncic indicated his interest in securing a deal with the Lakers. When asked by Andrews if he wants to stay in Los Angeles, Doncic offered a concise and direct answer:
“Yes,” he said.