Kyrie Irving played with Luka Dončić on the Dallas Mavericks for two years, give or take. Together, they were pretty successful until the Mavericks stunningly traded Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.
After the Lakers beat the Mavericks in their first game since the trade, Irving gave his candid thoughts on the whole process for his former teammate.
Kyrie Irving Believes Luka Dončić Is Going Through ‘Rejection’
Per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, “Kyrie Irving has stayed in touch with Dončić since the trade, checking on his emotional state more than anything. He feels protective of Dončić.”
Irving also gave his candid thoughts on what he thinks Dončić is going through since the Mavericks traded him.
“I don’t think he expected the change, and I think that’s probably what leads to him feeling his emotions even more so in a deeper way,” Irving said. “Rejection, I think that’s a strong word … but sometimes it can feel like that.
“You got to go through your process of grieving. Grieving … is not a word we use in NBA circles — it’s like, ‘Just be tough, bro.’ Everybody expects you to turn over the next page and get over it. The reality is, man, we’re human too.”
While many — arguably everyone — couldn’t believe what the Mavericks had done, it makes sense that Dončić is taking it the hardest. He was seen as the franchise’s face for years to come.
Since the trade, more has been leaked about why Dallas traded him. Primarily, they didn’t like that he supposedly didn’t take conditioning seriously, among other issues. That would only make it harder for Dončić to hear, knowing that in the short time he played for them, he took them to two Western Conference Finals and a surprise NBA Finals appearance in 2024.
Trades like those, especially when they are ones that no one sees coming (not even the players involved), are trades that the players take personally because the team is signaling that they didn’t believe in their young star.
The Mavericks will spend the next several years defending themselves for trading Dončić to the Lakers. If LA wins multiple titles because of the trade, it won’t matter what Dallas says. It also won’t be surprising if Dončić makes sure to let the Mavericks know what they passed on when they traded him to the Lakers.
He may make it as painful as possible for them, but no one should blame him if and when he does.
