Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Former Luka Doncic Teammate Gets Real On How Mavericks Roster Reacted After Winter Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Ishaan Bhattacharya | Last updated Apr 15, 2025 3:54 PM ET

The winter NBA trade that sent Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers is still one fans and media have a hard time accepting. Nobody could've predicted it, including the players on the Mavericks who Doncic went to war with daily.

The decision to trade Doncic hit the Mavericks locker room hard, as revealed by now Philadelphia 76ers star Quentin Grimes on the 'Young Man And The Three' podcast.

"I was in my hotel in Cleveland. I had just ordered some room service... The trade happened around 11:30 (PM). My man called me, and I was like, 'I should probably answer this real quick...' All I could hear was, 'You traded Luka?' I'm like, 'Stop playing with me, what do you mean Luka got traded?' Then I went to Shams and saw Luka for AD."

"10 seconds later, I hear in the hallway, 'Ey yo what the (expletive)?' It's Naji, D-Live, and PJ. We're looking at each other, like, 'What the (expletive) just happened?'"

"What you mean Luka got traded?!" -- Quentin Grimes on finding out about the Luka trade while on the Mavs NEW YM3 TOMORROW pic.twitter.com/OUnGdFXKJl
— TheYoungManAndTheThree (@OldManAndThree) April 15, 2025

Grimes would soon follow Luka out the door, getting traded days later to the Philadephia 76ers, with his representation reportedly upset at the Doncic trade with Grimes in a contract year. He's living up to his potential, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists with the 76ers.

The Doncic trade shocked everyone in the world, but it had to have a major impact on the Mavericks' locker room. Most of these players went to the NBA Finals on Doncic's back just one season ago, so to see him leave and have no control over that decision has to be a tough pill to swallow.

Grimes chose not to swallow the pill and find himself a new team as well. Doncic is now heading into the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the West, while the Mavericks are the No. 10 seed and still under fire for this trade decision months later.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: