Luka Doncic – the biggest mistake in Dallas Mavericks history
The trade that shocked everyone
On this day in 2025 the basketball world was stunned when the Dallas Mavericks sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal—centered on Doncic going to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick—felt impossible to many fans and even some reporters at first, but it was real.
The move came with the explanation that Dallas wanted to chase immediate success and didn’t have the patience to build around Doncic. That rationale didn’t sit well with supporters. Protests erupted outside team facilities, and the backlash even included a symbolic coffin brought by angry fans aimed at the front office. The situation prompted public regret from ownership; Mark Cuban later called the trade a mistake and said he wished he’d been consulted.
Where both teams stand now
A year on, Doncic has flourished in Los Angeles. He’s putting up heavy scoring numbers and has helped push the Lakers into playoff contention. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have struggled to find stable footing. Anthony Davis has been limited by recurring injuries, and Kyrie Irving remains out while rehabbing an ACL. Dallas sits well outside the top spots in the West, and the club’s record reflects a team still trying to regroup.
Young Cooper Flagg has been thrust into the spotlight as the new face of the franchise. He’s shown flashes of brilliance—including a remarkable 49-point outing that set a new teenage scoring mark—but even those moments haven’t erased the feeling among many fans that losing Doncic was a huge setback. Flagg now has the opportunity to develop without heavy expectations, but it’s fair to say he hasn’t yet inspired the same long-term confidence Doncic offered.
For Mavericks supporters the trade still stings. Dallas traded away a player who’d carried them to the NBA Finals not long before, and right now the payoff for that bold decision isn’t obvious. The Lakers gained a superstar who elevates their title hopes, while Dallas is left balancing injury management, player development and the pressure of asking young pieces to accelerate their growth.
In the end the move remains one of the most controversial decisions in the franchise’s recent history. Doncic seems content in his new surroundings and continues to put up elite numbers; the Mavericks are in a rebuilding phase that will test the patience of their fans. Whether Cooper Flagg becomes the long-term answer for Dallas is still an open question, but for now, many feel the team lost far more than it gained.
