On Sunday morning, the future of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks was dramatically altered in a stunning three-team trade that sent Luka Doncic to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis. Lakers star LeBron James, who was reportedly not notified of this trade until it was officially announced, had a lot to say about the monumental shift.
This trade signifies the conclusion of an era for James, who had a successful six-season partnership with Davis, highlighted by a championship win in 2020 that brought glory to the City of Los Angeles. Now, with their time together coming to an end, James expressed his feelings on Instagram, sharing his sadness over the move while wishing Davis luck in Dallas. “Love you my dog,” wrote James, accompanied by a crying face emoji. “Go crazy over there. WOE 4L. See you soon.”
LeBron shares a goodbye message for Anthony Davis on IG 😢💔 pic.twitter.com/QGpJKTVD30
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 2, 2025
While the loss of a player like Davis is undoubtedly challenging for James, the acquisition of Luka Doncic presents a promising opportunity for the Lakers. Doncic was instrumental in leading the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season, reinforcing James’ ultimate goal of securing championships at any cost. Although losing a close friend in Davis is difficult, the potential for success with Doncic could prove beneficial in the long run.
At the moment, it’s clear that James is not fully on board with the trade. It will be intriguing to see if he becomes more supportive of the deal as the season progresses and as he and Doncic familiarize themselves as teammates.
