Report: Luka Doncic Never Wanted To Leave Mavericks, Could Spend Rest Of His Career With Lakers

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, Luka Doncic never wanted to leave the Dallas Mavericks. 

The Mavericks traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and Max Christie in what is being called the most shocking trade in NBA history. 

Doncic could spend the rest of his career with the Lakers, one of the most powerful franchises in sports. 

Shams:

“In talking to people around Luka Doncic over the last 72 hours, he had no intention ever of leaving Dallas. He did not want to go anywhere” pic.twitter.com/eyZXy4rqb2

— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) March 4, 2025

The Lakers can offer Doncic a four-year, $229 million extension this summer, or, like other teams, a five-year, $296 million contract in the summer of 2026. 

One of the best players in the NBA, Doncic is averaging 22.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists with the Lakers, who are in second place in the Western Conference standings.

Doncic has a close relationship with LeBron James and Los Angeles head coach JJ Redick. 

A future Hall of Famer, Doncic appeared in 422 games with the Mavericks. He averaged 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists and made five All-Star teams and five All-NBA teams.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Nico Harrison no longer wanted the Mavericks to orbit around Doncic. 

Harrison would have tried to trade Doncic this summer if the Lakers deal didn’t happen.

“Yet naturally now, with a bit of distance from the initial shock, you have begun to hear more of the whispers that the Mavericks had somehow concealed for months,” Stein wrote. “Whispers via league sources suggesting that Dallas’ decision-makers, most notably general manager Nico Harrison, no longer wanted Planet Mavericks to orbit around Dončić and had grown determined to trade him by this summer at the latest.”

Doncic was eligible to sign a five-year, $345 million extension with the Mavericks this summer. 

According to The Athletic, Dallas was never going to offer Doncic the supermax extension. 

Doncic, 26, has career averages of 28.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.2 assists.