Luka Dončić Was ‘Really Amazed’ by How Los Angeles Lakers Fans Welcomed Him

The Dallas Mavericks shocked the sports world last season when Nico Harrison traded NBA superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and Max Christie.

Dončić, who wanted to spend his entire NBA career with the Mavericks, threw his phone at the wall after the trade went down.

However, once Dončić got to the Lakers, he was “really amazed” by how Los Angeles fans welcomed him to the city and franchise.

“New guy, new city. You know, it’s not really easy,” Dončić said in a video released by the Lakers on Saturday called Luka Dončić: Born to Compete, Destined to Dominate. “Just being welcomed by the fans, you know, that was the first thing that really amazed me.”

Dončić averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists with the Lakers last season after the Mavericks traded him in February. The five-time NBA All-Star put up 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in the Minnesota Timberwolves series, but the Timberwolves beat the Lakers in five games.

An elite scorer and passer, Dončić finished last season with averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists while shooting 45.0% overall, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 78.2% from the free-throw line with the Mavericks and Lakers.  

Dončić can sign an extension with the Lakers on August 2 for as much as four years and $229 million. The future Hall of Famer can also agree to a two-year extension to get him to 10 years of service in the summer of 2028 and then sign a five-year max contract at 35% of the salary cap to maximize his earnings.

Dončić has career averages of 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 450 games with the Mavericks and Lakers. He guided Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024.