On February 2, 2025, Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a surprising transaction that also involved Anthony Davis moving to the Dallas Mavericks.

Luka Doncic candidly expressed his feelings about the Mavericks trade closureLuka Doncic (Image Credit: @GrantAfseth/X)
Following this significant change, on February 25, Doncic participated in the highly anticipated matchup against his former team, the Mavericks.

Doncic showcased an exceptional performance at Crypto.com Arena during a recent matchup against his former team. Over 35 minutes, he recorded a remarkable triple-double, demonstrating his versatility and skill on the court. In the post-game interview, a reporter inquired if facing the Mavericks offered Doncic a sense of closure regarding his trade.

“The closure is going to take a while, I think… It’s not ideal, but like I said, I’m glad this game is over. There’s a lot of emotions, but we go little by little, and every day is better.” Doncic said.

The Slovenian basketball player had an impressive game, scoring 19 points, making 12 assists, and grabbing 15 rebounds. Meanwhile, superstar LeBron James recorded a double-double with 27 points, three assists, and 12 rebounds. These outstanding performances helped the Lakers secure a 107-99 victory over the Mavericks.

Klay Thompson’s Take on Facing Luka Doncic in Lakers-Mavs Matchup: “It Was Strange”

Mavericks forward Klay Thompson had a brief opportunity to play alongside Luka Doncic before Doncic’s trade to the Lakers. In a recent matchup against the Lakers, Thompson played against Doncic for the first time since the trade occurred. He logged 30 minutes on the court, contributing 22 points, one assist, and eight rebounds. During the post-game interview, Thompson shared insights about his experience competing against Doncic.

“It was strange, but he’s a competitive guy and so are we, so it was fun to battle. I know we’ll see him at least one more time, maybe twice. But it was strange at first. But once you run up the court a couple of times, it’s just another basketball game.” Thompson said.


The Lakers are currently in 4th place in the Western Conference standings with a record of 35 wins and 21 losses in the ongoing 2024-25 NBA season. Their next game will be against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena.