Luka Doncic trade timeline: How Lakers got new star and why the Mavericks traded him
Luka Dončić thought he might play for the Dallas Mavericks for his entire career, just like his rookie-year teammate Dirk Nowitzki once did. His presumption was wrong, and the fallout continues more than three weeks later as Doncic gets set to face his former team for the first time since one of the most stunning trades in NBA history went down.
The Los Angeles Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena with Dončić coming off his best game with his new team and the former Lakers' star he was traded for ‒ Anthony Davis ‒ already out of the Mavericks' lineup due to injury.
A lot happened quickly when news broke that Dončić would be joining the Lakers, with both players surfacing in their new cities within days. Then came the reports and speculation about why this deal happened, and why the Mavericks ultimately elected to move on from Dončić, a 25-year-old superstar seemingly about to enter the prime of his career. leading up to this moment. There was delight from Lakers fans, disgust from lots of Mavericks fans, and an infusion of interest and curiosity from diehard and casual NBA fans alike.
This trade, and the immediate and long-term results that come from it, will be a defining memory from this NBA season, and so this initial meeting with Dončić playing for the Lakers against the Mavericks is likely to only be another chapter in a story that's really just beginning.
With that in mind, here's a timeline breaking down what to know about the the Dončić trade, what's happened since the deal was completed and how to watch Tuesday's first game between the Mavericks and Lakers with Doncic representing Los Angeles:
Luka Dončić Lakers-Mavericks trade timeline
- Jan. 7: Nico Harrison said negotiations on the Dončić-Davis trade began with a conversation between him and Lakers GM Rob Pelinka at a coffee shop in Dallas. ESPN reported the meeting happened on this morning at Ascension Coffee in the lobby of the Hotel Crescent Court near American Airlines Center.
- Feb. 1: ESPN's Shams Charania tweeted at 11:12 p.m., "The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick." ESPN reported soon thereafter the stunning move was done by the Mavericks because of "major concerns about moving forward with Luka Dončić due to his constant conditioning issues and the looming commitment of another supermax contract extension this summer."
- Feb. 2: Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison explained his rationale for the trade in a news conference before a 144-101 Dallas loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. “He fits right along with our timeframe to win now and win in the future,” Harrison said about adding Davis to the roster. Dončić, meanwhile, released a statement thanking the city of Dallas and Mavericks fans.
- Feb. 3: An interview by Slovenian outlet Arena Sport 1 with Dončić's father, Sasa, was translated into English and Dončić's father did not mince words about his anger with the Mavericks as speculation increased that Dončić's conditioning played a role in the Dallas decision to move on from their former franchise player. "Luka absolutely doesn't deserve this," Sasa Dončić said.
- Feb. 4: Dončić is introduced by the Lakers at a news conference before the Lakers faced the Clippers at Intuit Dome for the first time: “I thought I was going to spend my whole career (in Dallas) because loyalty is a big word for me and I was trying to stand by that, but this is a fresh start,” he said. “I get to play in LA, the fans are amazing and I got the ocean here (so) I’m excited to be here.”LeBron James commented publicly on the trade for the first time, saying he was as stunned as anyone that the Lakers and Mavericks pulled off this deal. “My emotions were all over the place Saturday,” James said. “We were coming off a huge win in the (Madison Square) Garden and I was out with my family at dinner and the first time I heard it, I thought it was fake and that it was a hoax.”
- Feb. 6: Dončić is introduced to Lakers fans at Crypto.com Arena for the first time during a break in the action of the team's 120-112 win over the Golden State Warriors.
- Feb. 8: Dallas Mavericks fans protest outside American Airlines Center before the debut of Anthony Davis, part of an uptick in unrest among the local fanbase disappointed that the team's new ownership group and general manager Nico Harrison traded away Dončić. ESPN reported Harrison received death threats. Davis had a huge first quarter in the Mavericks' 116-105 win over the Houston Rockets, finishing with a team-high 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists in 31 minutes. But he exited the game in the third quarter with a left adductor strain and hasn't appeared in a Mavericks game since then.
- Feb. 9: Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont spoke about the trade for the first time after the loud and passionate reaction from Mavericks' fans. “If you look at the greats in the league, the people you and I grew up with — [Michael] Jordan, [Larry] Bird, Kobe [Bryant], Shaq [O’Neal]," Dumont told The Dallas Morning News, "they worked really hard, every day, with a singular focus to win,” he said. “And if you don’t have that, it doesn’t work. And if you don’t have that, you shouldn’t be part of the Dallas Mavericks."
- Feb. 10: Dončić makes his Lakers debut in a home win over the Utah Jazz with former Mavericks great Dirk Nowitzki in the arena for support and the entire crowd wearing No. 77 shirts handed out by the team. Dončić finished with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in his first NBA game since Christmas. "It was special the way they received me," he said. "It was amazing to see. I was a little nervous before. I can't remember the last time I was nervous before the game, but once I stepped out on the court it was fun being out there again. It felt amazing." Meanwhile, in Dallas, multiple fans seen holding "Fire Nico" signs and T-shirts were ejected from the Mavericks' 129-128 loss to the Sacramento Kings for breaking the NBA's fan code of conduct, according to multiple reports. Dumont was also booed by fans while seated courtside during the third quarter.
- Feb. 12: Neither Dončić nor James played well in the Lakers' 131-119 loss to the Jazz in the final game before the NBA All-Star break. "I felt a little rusty," Dončić said. "Approaching this break, we got to rest. For me, I think it's more mental rest than anything else, but I still got to work. So I'm excited about this break and I can't wait to go back to play."
- Feb. 15: NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed the Dončić trade between the Mavericks and the Lakers for the first time at NBA All-Star weekend. He expressed surprise at the move and empathy for the fans. He also addressed speculation that emerged over the franchise's commitment to Dallas under a new ownership group. "Whether or not history will ultimately judge this as a smart trade, they did what they thought was in the best interest of their organization," Silver said. "I have absolutely no knowledge or belief that there were any ulterior motives. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Dumont, Adelson families bought that team to keep it in Dallas."
- Feb. 19: Dončić had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists but also went 1 for 9 from 3-point range and 5 for 18 from the field and finished with six turnovers in the Lakers' first game back from the All-Star break. The lackluster 100-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets featured Williams returning for the Hornets for the first time since the rescinded trade and outplaying his Lakers counterparts. "Obviously I'm going to need some time,"Dončić told reporters, "but I'm happy to represent the Lakers."
- Feb. 20: The Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers without Dončić in the lineup as James erupted for more than 40 points.
- Feb. 22: Dončić plays his best game with the Lakers in a resounding 123-100 win over the Denver Nuggets, who eliminated Los Angeles from the playoffs the past two years. Dončić had 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Lakers coach JJ Redick revealed he told Dončić before the game he wanted "at least one blackout episode” in which Dončić would scream at no one in particular. “That means he’s back,” Redick said pregame. “That’s the Luka I know, the killer.”After the game, James described himself as the wide receiver to Dončić's quarterback in the new team dynamic. “Finally feel like myself a little bit,” Dončić said. “Playing this game, this is what I love. Just finally being myself a little bit, that’s why I was smiling all game.”
- Feb. 24: Lakers coach J.J. Redick told reporters it won't be a normal game for Dončić when he faces the Mavericks for the first time since the trade on Tuesday night. “I think he’ll be fine,” Redick said, according to The Athletic. “Every day that he’s been with us it’s becoming a little more normal. I’ve been there. The first time you play your old team, particularly this close in time duration, it’s going to be weird. But he’ll be OK.”
How to watch Luka Dončić vs. Mavericks: TV, streaming for Lakers' game
Luka Doncic's first game with the Lakers against the Mavericks will be nationally televised on TNT and truTV. It can be streamed via Max or Sling.
- Date: Feb. 25, 2025
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
- TV: TNT, truTV
- Streaming: Max, Sling
Watch Mavericks vs. Lakers with Sling
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