On this day in 2025, the global sports world was stunned when the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
No one could believe it when ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Mavericks had executed the unthinkable, sending Doncic to the Lakers in a package for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round asset. Many initially assumed it was a fake insider account or a “NBA Centel” hoax that had fooled fans, players, and even some journalists before—but this time, it was real.
Doncic, the face of the franchise, was let go with the excuse that the Mavericks wanted to win immediately and didn’t have time to wait. From any perspective, it was shocking, especially considering that just a year earlier, Doncic had carried a team plagued by injuries all the way to the NBA Finals.
A year after the trade, it’s clear this was one of the biggest mistakes in franchise history, a fact even Mark Cuban admitted.
“It was a mistake and I wish they would have spoken to me first. I’m happy for Luka. And I’m happy for Mavs fans that we’ve got Coop, even though I recognize that we all still miss Luka,” he said.
Claim Now Immediately following the trade, Mavericks fans staged protests, even bringing a coffin to protest the then-GM Nico Harrison, who had orchestrated the deal.
“The people responsible for that [deal] are for the most part gone, which I think was necessary,” Cuban added.
Doncic himself was blindsided, having fully embraced his role as a Maverick just a year prior when he led the team to the NBA Finals.
Now with the Lakers, Doncic is thriving. He is leading the league in scoring at 33.7 points per game and has carried Los Angeles to a 29-19 record.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, are struggling. Anthony Davis has battled injuries all season, and Kyrie Irving remains sidelined due to his ongoing ACL recovery. Dallas currently sits 11th in the Western Conference with a 19-30 record.
Even with reigning No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg as the new face of the organization, Cuban and the Mavericks can only reflect bittersweetly on Doncic’s departure.
There were initial hints that Irving might return soon, but these were quickly refuted. Even if Irving were ready, with the team sitting at just 19 wins and likely headed for the play-in, rushing him back would make little sense.
Davis has played just 20 games this season, with his chronic injuries continuing to plague him. While he remains capable of championship-level play, as he showed with previous Lakers title runs, that was several years ago. The recent rumors of a potential Davis trade only highlight how poorly the Mavericks have handled the situation.
Luka Dončić had 46 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds on Monday night and became the quickest Laker to reach 2,000 points. He achieved the feat in his 65th game, breaking the previous record set in 1949 by George Mikan (72 games). pic.twitter.com/DUvrAN5a6f
— Crazy Stats (@NBAcrazystats) January 27, 2026
Instant success is something the Mavericks cannot expect right now. Had Doncic remained in Dallas, hope would exist, and their record would likely be far better. It’s also certain that if Doncic were still with the team, Cooper Flagg would not yet be the centerpiece.
In any case, Doncic is happy in Lakers colors, the Mavericks are still mourning his departure, Davis struggles with injuries, and Flagg now has all the freedom in the world to build confidence and put up impressive numbers.
Sometimes stats don’t tell the whole story, just ask Luka Doncic. His presence on the court gives every fan hope that he can lead a team to a championship. Can Cooper Flagg inspire the same belief for Mavericks fans?
Let’s be honest, the answer is negative.
Last night, Cooper Flagg finished with 49 points, the most by a teenager in a single game in @NBA history. Flagg broke Cliff Robinson’s record of 45, set on March 9, 1980. His 49 points also broke the Mavericks’ rookie record, which he previously shared with Mark Aguirre.
— Crazy Stats (@NBAcrazystats) January 30, 2026
Since… pic.twitter.com/L7Rv03xoYM
