Urban
RebeccaLuka Dončić has been talked about all over the world recently!
He’s not only considered the best basketball player in Slovenia, but in the world, and he changed teams mid-season.
He had to leave the Dallas Mavericks, where he began his NBA journey in 2018, and was forced to move to the Los Angeles Lakers.
No one expected this. Even basketball legends are shocked.
Once again, it has been shown that sports is just one big business and that even the biggest stars are not untouchable.
In Dallas where he made a second home, he was a star and a fan favorite. Some even named their children after him.
Fans are disappointed with the team’s management, who decided to trade him.
As many as 700 thousand fans immediately stopped following the team on Instagram after hearing the news.
Rookie of the Year
5x All-Star
5x All-NBA First Team
WCF MVP
23-24 Scoring championYour impact on this team & this city will never be forgotten, 77. Mavs family for life. Thank you for the magic.
Hvala, Luka #MFFL pic.twitter.com/vtfRRStLAN
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) February 2, 2025
The Dallas Mavericks have improved tremendously – from one of the worst teams in the Western Conference to, in just a few years, playing in the NBA finals last year.
It’s all thanks to Dončić, who averaged 28.6 points per game, the third-best in history.
That’s also why the change is a real surprise.
Among the reasons are his injuries and the fact that he would be eligible for a $345 million contract next year, which the new management did not want to pay.
The public reaction is clear – everyone is disgusted with Dallas, while the Lakers are considered to have made an exceptional deal.
23 + 77 =
LeBron x Luka coming soon pic.twitter.com/U52T1ipz8W
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 2, 2025
They are the second-best team in the league with seventeen championships, and Dončić is determined to help them reach the top.
He will also be able to keep his famous number 77.
An autobiography was recently released, detailing his basketball beginnings on the Spanish team, Real Madrid.
Grateful for this amazing opportunity. 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. https://t.co/psfgI5o9Pn
— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) February 2, 2025
Dončić is also the face of Slovenian tourism. A Slovenian evening was supposed to take place in Dallas in March, but the event will now be slightly changed.
The Slovenian Tourist Board has already announced that they will continue their cooperation!
Slovenska turistična organizacija se odziva na novico, da bo Luka Dončić @luka7doncic, ambasador slovenskega turizma, košarkarsko kariero nadaljeval pri klubu Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers.
Sporočilo za javnost: https://t.co/UDA3Qm7n7e #lukadoncic #ifeelsLOVEnia pic.twitter.com/HdXdhWnxfY
— Slovenian Tourist Board (@tourism_slo) February 3, 2025
Points to Consider
- Did the news surprise you?
- Do you know how trades work in the NBA?
- What is Luka’s nickname?
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The original version of this article was published on February 4th.
Sandra
Saša
