Lakers Traded Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic, But Davis Thought They Were Teaming Up

Davis was shocked to learn he was traded, not that Doncic was coming to play alongside him.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:55pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the abstract forms of basketball players in motion, representing the surprising and complex nature of the trade that sent shockwaves through the league.A cubist interpretation of the blockbuster trade that sent shockwaves through the NBA, as one superstar's future was fractured in unexpected ways.Los Angeles Today

In a surprising NBA trade last season, the Los Angeles Lakers traded star player Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic. However, Davis revealed that he initially thought the Lakers were bringing in Doncic to play alongside him, not trading him away. Davis was shocked when his agent Rich Paul told him he had been traded to Dallas.

Why it matters

This trade was one of the most unexpected moves in recent NBA history, with the Lakers parting ways with a superstar like Davis. Davis' revelation that he thought the Lakers were pairing him with Doncic, not trading him, provides insight into his reaction and the Lakers' strategy behind the blockbuster deal.

The details

Davis said that when his agent Rich Paul called to tell him he had been traded to the Mavericks, Davis thought Paul was joking. Davis had previously discussed with Paul how great it would be to play alongside Doncic, so he assumed the Lakers were acquiring the young Mavericks star to team up with him. However, Paul confirmed the trade was real, leaving Davis stunned. The Lakers ended up trading Davis to Dallas, where he played just 29 games over two seasons before being traded again.

  • The trade occurred two weeks before the NBA trade deadline last season.

The players

Anthony Davis

A star player who was traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks in a surprising move last season.

Luka Doncic

The young superstar player who the Lakers acquired from the Mavericks in the trade, though Davis initially thought Doncic would be joining him in Los Angeles.

Rich Paul

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

Los Angeles Lakers

The NBA team that traded away Anthony Davis in a blockbuster deal.

Dallas Mavericks

The NBA team that acquired Anthony Davis in the trade with the Lakers.

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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. I'm like, 'Imagine me with Luka, like oh my God.'”

— Anthony Davis, NBA Player

“And so when he said traded to Dallas, I was like, get the f--k out of here. And I said, 'Who the f--k are they going to trade me for, Luka?' Who else can you trade me for on that team? Mind you, they just went to the Finals. And there was never no discussion like '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 will now have to navigate the rest of the season without both Doncic and Austin Reaves, who are both sidelined with injuries. Davis, meanwhile, will not participate in the playoffs this year as his new team, the Washington Wizards, has decided to shut him down and focus on the future.

The takeaway

This trade was one of the most shocking moves in recent NBA history, with the Lakers parting ways with a superstar like Davis. Davis' revelation that he thought the Lakers were bringing in Doncic to play alongside him, not trading him away, provides an interesting perspective on the trade and the Lakers' strategy. The Lakers are now left to deal with the aftermath, while Davis continues his career with a new team.