Lakers Trade Anthony Davis for Mavs' Luka Doncic Shocks NBA

Davis reveals he didn't believe agent Rich Paul when he first heard the blockbuster deal

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:12pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the moment Anthony Davis learned he was traded, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the fractured emotions and perspectives of the blockbuster deal.The shocking trade of Anthony Davis to the Mavericks for Luka Doncic left the veteran big man in complete disbelief.Los Angeles Today

In a stunning NBA trade before the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers dealt 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for superstar Luka Doncic. Davis, who had been fantasizing about playing alongside Doncic, was completely caught off guard when his agent Rich Paul informed him of the trade.

Why it matters

The trade of Davis, a perennial All-NBA talent, for the young phenom Doncic was one of the biggest blockbuster deals in recent NBA history, shaking up the league's power dynamics and leaving many fans and analysts stunned.

The details

According to Davis, when his agent Rich Paul called to tell him he had been traded to the Mavericks, the 33-year-old big man didn't believe it at first. Davis had previously discussed with Paul how amazing it would be to team up with the 24-year-old Doncic, so he assumed Paul was joking. However, Paul assured Davis that the trade was real, leaving the veteran player in disbelief.

  • The trade occurred before the start of the 2024-25 NBA season.

The players

Anthony Davis

A 10-time NBA All-Star and one of the league's premier big men, who was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster deal.

Luka Doncic

The young superstar of the Dallas Mavericks, who was acquired by the Lakers in the trade for Anthony Davis.

Rich Paul

Anthony Davis' agent, who informed him of the trade to the Mavericks.

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What they’re saying

“Rich Paul called me on the phone and was like, 'They just traded you to Dallas.' I'm like, shut up. But like, I know because I spoke to Rich before, like, man. Luka is so cold, bro. We used to talk about Luka all the time. Be like imagine me with Luka, like oh my god... And so when [Paul] said traded to Dallas, I was like, 'Get the f** out of here.' And I said, 'Who the f** they going to trade me for Luka, n****?' Who else can you trade me for on that team? Mind you, [the Dallas Mavericks] just went to the Finals. And there was never no discussion we might get AD out of here, or it was nothing. He was like, 'They traded you for Luka.' I'm like, 'Rich, shut the hell up.' I'm really thinking he's just playing. And he was like, 'Man, I swear.'”

— Anthony Davis, NBA Player

What’s next

The Lakers and Mavericks will face off in a highly anticipated matchup early in the 2024-25 season, as Davis makes his debut with his new team against his former squad.

The takeaway

The blockbuster trade of Anthony Davis to the Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic stunned the NBA world and left even Davis himself in disbelief, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the league's transaction landscape.