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Luka Doncic reveals his violent initial reaction to news of trade

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated Apr 18, 2025 4:49 PM ET

Luka Doncic was literally breaking things after getting the news that he had been traded by the Dallas Mavericks.

The Los Angeles Lakers star Doncic sat down this week for an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews. During the interview, Doncic revealed that he had a violent initial reaction when informed of the news last February that he had been dealt.

Doncic said that after he hung up the phone, he ended up throwing the phone and breaking it. Doncic also showed off the phone in question (with several large cracks now adorning the back) and added that he still uses it (because “it still works”).

Here is the full clip.

Luka Doncic tells @malika_andrews about throwing his phone and breaking it when he found out he got traded to the Lakers

"My heart was broken honestly." pic.twitter.com/rfsIGlOaBC
— ESPN (@espn) April 18, 2025

Doncic, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Mavericks and had just led them to the NBA Finals last year, was obviously completely blindsided by the trade. He had just made a big purchase in Dallas right before getting dealt and has since stated that he would have signed a supermax deal to stay with the Mavericks had they offered it to him.

The five-time All-NBA First Team selection Doncic returned to Dallas for the first time since the trade earlier this month and was in very visible tears as a tribute video to him played. But with that chapter now firmly in his rearview mirror, Doncic will be focused on leading the Lakers (with whom he has averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game with thus far) on a deep playoff run (with cracked iPhone and all).

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

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