LeBron James appears to take a subtle shot at the Mavs after they traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers

Nearly two months have passed since Luka Doncic joined the Los Angeles Lakers in a trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. While both stars have settled into their new teams, the ripple effects of the trade that stunned the NBA are still being felt. Recently, Lakers leader LeBron James weighed in on the situation, delivering remarks that appeared to include a veiled critique of the Mavericks’ decision.

The trade left many baffled, as it involved sending away the face of the Mavericks’ franchise, who led the team to the NBA Finals for the first time in 13 years. The decision is even harder to fathom given that Doncic had shown no intention of leaving Dallas.

While James acknowledged that he couldn’t fully relate to Doncic’s experience, having never been traded himself, he empathized with the human side of the situation. He noted how shocking it must be for a player so deeply committed to a franchise to be moved without warning.

“I can’t put myself in his shoes because I’ve never been traded before. But I can have a sense and be a human being to know: You commit to a franchise for seven years and you feel like, ‘This is the place where I’m going to be,’” James said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “And then out of nowhere, bam, you just get traded. I don’t give a damn where you’re going… That’s a shock to your system“.

LeBron James and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game against the Utah Jazz. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

James appeared to indirectly call out the Mavericks for their lack of empathy in how they handled Luka Doncic’s departure. The Slovenian star was the face of the franchise for seven seasons and had no intentions of leaving Dallas. However, none of that seemed to matter to the Texas franchise’s front office when they made the blockbuster trade.

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Lakers thriving with Doncic

Despite a recent three-game losing streak, the Lakers’ improvement since acquiring Doncic is undeniable. The Slovenian star has quickly become a pivotal part of JJ Redick’s system, enabling LeBron James to play off the ball more—a dynamic that was previously missing from their lineup.

Since Doncic’s arrival in Los Angeles, the Lakers have posted a solid 12-9 record. They currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference standings, just one game behind the Memphis Grizzlies.

Kyrie Irving urges Mavs fans to move on from Doncic trade

Luka Doncic’s departure dealt a significant emotional blow to the Dallas Mavericks community. Fans and players alike were deeply affected by the loss of the franchise’s cornerstone player.

Kyrie Irving, who now leads the Mavericks alongside Anthony Davis, acknowledged the emotional toll but urged fans to focus on the present and support the team’s rebuilding efforts.

“It may have been emotional for a lot of people,” Irving admitted while reflecting on the trade’s aftermath, during an Instagram Livestream. “It was emotional for me, too. I ain’t gonna lie to you — I struggled a bit for the first few days. But after a while, you get to be where you are by making some incredible moves. We can only deal with what we’re doing now”.