Lakers owner Jeanie Buss broke her silence on the team’s blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic this week, as she gushed about the ‘very special player’ that LA acquired from the Mavericks.
The NBA community was stunned in the early hours of February 5 when the Mavericks sent 25-year-old Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick (the Jazz were also involved and received Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks).
And as Doncic continues to settle into his new surroundings, it’s clear Buss feels good about the deal.
‘Luka is a very special player. We’re thrilled to have him as part of the Laker team, but we had to give up a lot to get him,’ she told Entertainment Tonight from the premiere of Netflix’s ‘Running Point.’
‘And we’re going to miss Anthony Davis and Max Christie,’ she continued. ‘It’s like you’re always trying to improve the team, get a little bit better and ultimately win a championship.’
In Doncic, the Lakers acquired a five-time All-NBA player who was widely expected to be the face of the Mavericks’ franchise for years to come.
Jeanie Buss shows off a Lakers championship ring at the premiere of Netflix’s ‘Running Point’
Luka Doncic joined the Lakers earlier this month in a stunning trade with the Dallas Mavericks
The guard, who was recovering from a calf injury when the Lakers traded for him, has played just 23 minutes in each of his two appearances for the Lakers thus far, scoring 14 and 16 points in two matchups against the Jazz.
Mavericks fans, meanwhile, have been left furious by the shocking trade, with fans angrily calling for the firing of GM Nico Harrison – who made the deal – throughout this week.
Harrison has even been subject to death threats following the deal, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
Both Harrison and Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont, whose family purchased the majority share of the team from Cuban last year, have not-so-subtly criticized Doncic’s defense and work ethic after trading the Slovenian star.
‘I believe that defense wins championships,’ Harrison told MacMahon. ‘I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.’
Dumont also told the Dallas Morning News, ‘In my mind the way teams win is by focus, by having the right character, by having the right culture, and having the right dedication to work as hard as possible to create a championship-winning outcome. And if you’re not doing that, you’re going to lose.’
On the contrary, Doncic led Dallas to the NBA Finals last year, and the Lakers will hope he can have a similar affect on their franchise alongside a 40-year-old LeBron James in the final stages of his career.
