OKLAHOMA CITY — After one of the most lopsided losses of his career, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic was asked to comment on what many consider to be one of the most lopsided trades in league history, the deal that brought him to Los Angeles from the Dallas Mavericks. Nico Harrison, the Dallas president of basketball operations and general manager who first approached Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka with the idea of a trade in January, was fired by Mavs governor Patrick Dumont on Tuesday.
After Los Angeles’ 121-92 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, Doncic was asked for his reaction to the ejection.
“The city of Dallas, the fans and the players will always have a special place in my heart,” Doncic said. “I thought I was going to stay there forever, but I didn’t. So, this will always be a special place for me. I’ll always call it home. But right now, I’m focused on the Lakers and trying to move forward. But obviously there’s always going to be a part of me there.”
“But I’m just trying to move forward and focus on what I’m doing here.”
One reporter followed up by asking if Doncic could envision returning to play for the Mavericks now that Harrison is no longer with the organization.
“Right now, I’m just focused on the Lakers,” Doncic said. “No further comments.”
Harrison shocked the basketball world in February when he traded Doncic to the Lakers in a deal centered around the 2029 first-round pick of Anthony Davis, Max Christie and Los Angeles. Maxi Kleber, who was drafted by the Mavericks to adjust salaries, was also asked for his reaction to Harrison’s news after the Lakers’ morning photo session.
“It’s quick work, man,” Kleber said. “Players, general managers, coaches, everyone. So, you always have to be ready for the next step.”
Doncic, who was acquired by the Mavericks in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks on draft night in 2018, became the Rookie of the Year and was a five-time All-Star selection, a five-time NBA All-Star, a one-time scoring champion and was named the 2024 Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player — all at the age of 25 — with his former team.
He got off to a hot start with Los Angeles this season — averaging 37.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 9.1 assists through his first seven games — before struggling mightily against the defending champion Thunder.
Doncic finished the season with 19 points on 7-for-20 shooting (1-for-7 on 3-pointers), 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 turnovers against the Thunder. The Lakers were outscored by 31 points in the 33 minutes Doncic was on the court, and their 30-point deficit at intermission was the largest deficit Doncic has been behind in a first half in his eight-year career.
“It was definitely not our best game,” Doncic said. “This was probably one of the worst games of the season, but they did a great job. I think they all did a great job with me. They are champions for a reason, so they showed it today. I think we need to be more prepared. Obviously it starts with me. “I need to be much better than that and I have to understand that.”
Oklahoma City improved to a league-best 12-1. The Lakers, who are 2-1 on their current five-game road trip that ended with back-to-back wins in New Orleans and Milwaukee, are fifth in the West with an 8-4 record.
“It is not a matter of concern,” Doncic said when asked about the large gap between the two teams at the beginning of the season. “I think it’s a big motivation… They were champions for a reason and it’s a big motivation. They started the year better (than last season), I think so. It’s a big motivation to see how they play and try to stop them.”
