The jaw-dropping, blockbuster trade bringing Luka Dončić to the Lakers will almost certainly be a boon on and off the court for Los Angeles—and by extension the NBA.
The basketball world was still reeling Sunday from the Lakers’ late Saturday night deal with the Mavericks and Jazz, which sent Anthony Davis to Dallas and seemingly came out of nowhere in a league otherwise full of leaks and trade speculation. It’s a major move for the Lakers, already one of the league’s most popular and iconic franchises and second in NBA history with 17 championships. Among the immediate impacts:
- The Lakers’ championship betting odds more than doubled in the last 24 hours, rising from an implied probability of 2.44% to 5.6%. The team is now the No. 6 favorite across multiple sportsbooks, up from 10th at the start of the season. Currently in fifth place in the Western Conference and 8–2 in their last 10 games, the Lakers now gain a major offensive boost from the arrival of Dončić. A deep playoff run would also be something of a return to form for the Lakers after a recent stretch that included first-round losses in 2024 and 2021, and a non-appearance in 2022.
- The team has another franchise face for when 40-year-old star LeBron James chooses to retire. James has recently suggested that he could still play “at a high level” for “another five to seven years,” but quickly added, “I’m not going to do that.” He marveled Saturday at becoming the first 40-year-old in league history to post multiple triple-doubles, just days after his birthday, saying “I have no idea how I’m still doing this.” Whenever he does decide to stop playing, Dončić will become the megastar of a franchise that’s rarely been without one.
- Seeing James and Dončić on the court together becomes must-see television, something that could help reverse a season-long viewership malaise for the NBA that has become a defining storyline of the 2024–2025 season.
- The Lakers, normally the most popular pro team in Los Angeles, rise meteorically in the local sports conversation recently dominated by MLB’s Dodgers.
Both Dončić and Davis are currently dealing with injuries, however, with no specific timetables for their returns.
What About Dallas?
Mavericks GM Nico Harrison sought to put a brave face on the decision to part with Dončić, a 25-year-old cornerstone star who led the team to last year’s Finals, saying that “defense wins championships,” and arguing that is now improved with Davis. That sentiment, however, is not shared with most others around the NBA who sought to understand the logic of the deal, arriving shortly before Dončić was eligible for a $345 million supermax contract.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, are still aiming to build support under owners Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont and new team CEO Rick Welts to build a new arena to succeed the team’s current home, American Airlines Center.
Put on Notice
Other NBA stars lamented the current state of the league in which an established star such as Dončić could be moved at seemingly the prime of his career.
“Players are held to a different level of loyalty and commitment to a program, but the organizations don’t get held to that same standard. We all should be held to that same standard,” said Suns forward Kevin Durant, who called the deal “insane.” “It’s just the nature of playing basketball and us making this much money.”
