LeBron James wasted no time in welcoming his new teammate Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers following Tuesday's shock trade deal.
Despite being "taken off guard" by the blockbuster move himself, James immediately reached out to the Slovenian star.
"[James] called me right away," Doncic revealed at his Lakers introductory press conference. "He said, 'I understand what you're feeling.'
"That was really nice of him to call me right away and welcome me to LA."
The three-team trade deal caught the entire NBA world by surprise, with only Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison privy to the negotiations.
The deal saw Anthony Davis departing the Lakers in exchange for Doncic.
Even Utah Jazz president Danny Ainge, whose team was involved in the three-way trade, was stunned by the details.
The move blindsided both players and executives across the league, marking one of the most unexpected trades in recent NBA history.
Doncic's shock at the trade was evident when he received the late-night call about his move to Los Angeles.
"Everybody was surprised, so you could imagine how surprised I was," Doncic said.
"I was almost asleep when I got a call, had to check it was April 1."
The Slovenian star struggled to process the news initially.
"I couldn't really believe it at first. It was a shock, a hard moment for me," he told reporters at the press conference.
The trade came as a particularly difficult blow for Doncic, who had recently invested in making Dallas his permanent home.
Reports revealed the star had purchased a $15 million home in Dallas, signalling his long-term commitment to the city.
"It was home," Doncic said emotionally of Dallas. "It was really hard moment for me, especially the first day."
The sudden uprooting has forced Doncic to reconsider his future, though James's warm welcome offers some comfort in his transition to Los Angeles.
The trade decision reportedly stemmed from the Mavericks' growing concerns about Doncic's weight and conditioning.
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The timing of the move was particularly significant, as Doncic was approaching eligibility for a supermax contract.
The Mavericks chose to silently negotiate with the Lakers rather than address these concerns directly with their star player.
This behind-the-scenes approach ultimately led to the surprise announcement that has reshaped both franchises' futures.
Find Out More...
Despite being "taken off guard" by the blockbuster move himself, James immediately reached out to the Slovenian star.
"[James] called me right away," Doncic revealed at his Lakers introductory press conference. "He said, 'I understand what you're feeling.'
"That was really nice of him to call me right away and welcome me to LA."
The three-team trade deal caught the entire NBA world by surprise, with only Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison privy to the negotiations.
The deal saw Anthony Davis departing the Lakers in exchange for Doncic.
Even Utah Jazz president Danny Ainge, whose team was involved in the three-way trade, was stunned by the details.
The move blindsided both players and executives across the league, marking one of the most unexpected trades in recent NBA history.
Doncic's shock at the trade was evident when he received the late-night call about his move to Los Angeles.
"Everybody was surprised, so you could imagine how surprised I was," Doncic said.
"I was almost asleep when I got a call, had to check it was April 1."
The Slovenian star struggled to process the news initially.
"I couldn't really believe it at first. It was a shock, a hard moment for me," he told reporters at the press conference.
The trade came as a particularly difficult blow for Doncic, who had recently invested in making Dallas his permanent home.
Reports revealed the star had purchased a $15 million home in Dallas, signalling his long-term commitment to the city.
"It was home," Doncic said emotionally of Dallas. "It was really hard moment for me, especially the first day."
The sudden uprooting has forced Doncic to reconsider his future, though James's warm welcome offers some comfort in his transition to Los Angeles.
The trade decision reportedly stemmed from the Mavericks' growing concerns about Doncic's weight and conditioning.
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The timing of the move was particularly significant, as Doncic was approaching eligibility for a supermax contract.
The Mavericks chose to silently negotiate with the Lakers rather than address these concerns directly with their star player.
This behind-the-scenes approach ultimately led to the surprise announcement that has reshaped both franchises' futures.
Find Out More...