If you’re still trying to reconcile with the fact that Luka Doncic is a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, well it seems as though the guard is as well.
Following his mind-blowing trade from the Dallas Mavericks, the superstar Slovenian penned a heartfelt goodbye message to the city of Dallas and Mavs fans, which he shared on his social media channels on Sunday.
“Seven years ago, I came here as a teenager to pursue my dream on playing basketball at the highest level,” Doncic said. “I thought I’d spend my career here and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship.
“The love and support you all have given me is more than I could have ever dreamed of. For a young kid from Slovenia coming to the U.S. for the first time, you made North Texas feel like home.”
In a perplexing move, the Mavericks traded the 25-year-old to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for centre Anthony Davis, guard Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick on Saturday night.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania immediately after the trade, Doncic was left “stunned,” with neither the guard nor many key figures from both the Lakers and Mavericks knowing about the deal until the news was ultimately broken.
Doncic had been with the Mavericks for his entire seven-year career following a draft-night trade with the Atlanta Hawks.
“In good times and bad, from injuries to the NBA Finals, your support never changed,” Doncic said to fans in his goodbye message. “Thank you not only for sharing my joy in our best moments, but also for lifting me up when I needed it most.”
He also took time to thank organizations throughout the Dallas community for getting a chance to work with them and bring “light to those who need it.”
“I am leaving a city that will always feel like a home away from home. Dallas is a special place, and Mavs fans are special fans,” he said.
Following his goodbye post, he addressed his new team, the Lakers, saying that he’s grateful for the opportunity to suit up for the squad.
“Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play the game, I’ll do so with the same joy, passion and goal — to win championships,” Doncic said.
On the other side of the deal, Lakers superstar LeBron James posted a farewell message to his longtime teammate Anthony Davis on his Instagram story, saying: “Love you my dog!! Go crazy over there!”
The teams are set to meet two more times this regular season, with the Mavericks visiting Los Angeles on Feb. 25 and the Lakers heading to Dallas on April 9.
