Jeanie Buss, the majority share owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and the face of the franchise as a business as the team’s governor, was recently interviewed and went into detail regarding Los Angeles’ unexpected trade for Luka Dončić.
Although she might not have been at the center of the trade like Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, there is no denying that the owners from both sides were privy to the fact that their stars were going to be traded.
While the owners may have known, the same cannot be said about the players or the other members of both front offices. That said, fans might be interested in hearing more about what Buss had to say regarding the Dončić trade.
Jeanie Buss Discusses the Lakers’ Efforts To Comfort Luka Dončić
Buss was invited as a guest on “The Rich Eisen Show” and asked about the process that went into the trade which sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in return for Dončić, among other pieces.
Buss revealed that both organizations kept everything very tight-lipped. She explained that there would have been repercussions for both sides if the trade had not gone through.
As a result of the secrecy, Dončić had no idea that he was going to be traded. Reports revealed that he had purchased a home worth $15 million in Dallas and was clearly planning to spend his career with the Mavericks.
However, his team had decided to go in another direction and took the initiative of engaging in quiet trade discussions with the Lakers. Since Dončić was emotional over being traded, Buss emphasized that the Lakers did everything possible to make him and his family feel welcome in a new city.
Was the @lakers governor as shocked as the rest of the basketball world when the Luka trade was finally completed?@JeanieBuss took us behind-the-scenes on the #NBA blockbuster:#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/FmVasg8Qpi
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) February 25, 2025
“It still hadn’t set in with him,” Buss said of her first conversation with Dončić after the trade. “It’s very humbling to be traded; no one wants to go through that. He’d just bought a house and was settling in.”
She addressed the move and how they welcomed the former Mavericks star, saying, “We’ve embraced his family, his management, everything we could do to make his transition smoother is what we’re doing. It takes time because he’s got to decide — he doesn’t know L.A., he’s got to figure out where he wants to live. There’s just a lot going on.”
As far as living arrangements go, Dončić will likely sell his home in Dallas. Since property and taxes are significantly higher in Los Angeles, he is expected to spend a lot more on his new home. While that sounds like bad news, it is important to keep in mind that the best houses in Los Angeles are higher end when compared to those in Dallas.
Since Dončić can clearly afford the best, he can live wherever he likes within the city. Although it will take time to build the team around him, the future looks bright for the Los Angeles Lakers.
