Luka Doncic excited to join Lakers, says trade was a 'big shock' - ESPN

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Luka Doncic was nearly asleep last Saturday night in Dallas when his phone buzzed. Only then did he learn that the Mavericks had just stunned the sports world by trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers.

«You can imagine how surprised I was,» Doncic said. «I had to check if it was April 1. I didn't really believe it.»

The superstar has begun to recover from that shock after his first two days in LA, and he's growing increasingly excited about a new chapter with LeBron James and his famed new team on the West Coast.

And while his past and future teammates say Doncic has never lacked motivation to be great, he has all the fuel he'll ever need after the Mavericks inherently questioned his talent and determination by making the seismic trade.

«It was a big shock,» Doncic said. "[Dallas] was home, so it was really hard moments for me.… [But now] I get to play in the greatest club in the world, and I'm excited for this new journey.

"… I would say I always take the high road. I had my amazing moments in Dallas with all my teammates, coaches and most importantly the fans. They always supported me, and it was an amazing journey."

The Lakers formally welcomed Doncic on Tuesday, less than three days after they traded Anthony Davis and Max Christie in a three-team deal for the Slovenian scorer who won his first scoring title last season before leading the Mavs to the NBA Finals. Doncic is a five-time All-NBA selection and a five-time All-Star.

Stars of Doncic's age and accomplishments are almost never traded in any sport, and particularly not in such an abrupt manner. But when Dallas decided to move on from its 25-year-old centerpiece, the Lakers eagerly gave up Davis — one of basketball's best big men — to make it