LeBron James initially thought the Los Angeles Lakers’ blockbuster trade for Luka Dončić was a hoax when the news first leaked. Like several others, the future Hall of Famer thought it might be an early April Fool’s joke.
It wasn’t. The Lakers surprised everyone by swapping All-Star big man Anthony Davis for Dončić, along with a few other moving parts in a three-team trade involving the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks. The deal has been the subject of headline after headline throughout the week.
LeBron James Comments on Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis Trade
James commented on the move following the Lakers’ 122-97 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Specifically, the four-time MVP was asked how he felt about the franchise’s priorities shifting to the future more than the present by adding a 25-year-old playmaker in Dončić and trading away a 31-year-old big man in Davis.
“What’s wrong with that? If I had concerns, I would’ve waived my no-trade clause and go up out of here,” James said via Tomer Azarly.
“I’m here right now. I’m committed to the Lakers organization. I’m here to help Luka and Maxi (Kleber) make the transition as smooth as possible…As the leader of the team, as one of the captains of the team, it’s my job to make it as seamless as possible.”
LeBron James on if trading for Luka Doncic means Lakers’ priorities shift to the future more than the present:
“What’s wrong with that? If I had concerns, I would’ve waived my no-trade clause and go up out of here… I’m here right now. I’m committed to the Lakers organization.… pic.twitter.com/DNWQ6Z3n9m
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 5, 2025
The Lakers jumped into the trading frenzy first, setting off a series of moves across the NBA landscape, including another three-team deal involving the Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs. The biggest outcome in that one saw De’Aaron Fox land in San Antonio, with Zach Lavine heading to Sacramento.
Look for more moves to occur. The NBA trade deadline is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6.
Explaining James’ Contract, No-Trade Clause
James has a no-trade clause as part of the two-year contract worth about $101.4 million that he signed with the Lakers in 2024. During the 2024-25 season, James is making roughly $48.7 million, which ranks him as the 14th-highest-paid player in the NBA. Next season, he’ll earn about $52.6 million.
At the end of his current contract, James will have finished his longest consecutive tenure with any team in his career. He played 11 seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers across two different stints. The first stint, which began his career, lasted seven seasons.
James joined the Lakers as a free agent in 2018 and is currently in his seventh season with the team.
LeBron James reflects on his “special” relationship with Anthony Davis that went beyond a teammate dynamic pic.twitter.com/f7SuuPCdUG
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 5, 2025
James led the Lakers to the NBA Championship in 2020. Los Angeles defeated the Miami Heat in six games, with James winning NBA Finals MVP. He also finished second in league MVP voting during that season.
The title was James’ fourth. He also won Finals MVP for all four of his championships, plus he’s won league MVP on four occasions.
James’ other NBA accolades are nearly endless. He’s made the NBA’s All-Defensive Team six times and captured the All-Star Game MVP on three occasions. In 2008, he won the NBA scoring title, and he was the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2003-04.
Lakers-Mavericks Trade Appeared To Be Elaborate Hoax
Many players around the NBA thought the three-team deal swapping Dončić for Davis was an elaborate hoax at first glance.
James was out to dinner with his family in New York, fresh off a victory over the New York Knicks — one in which he recorded a triple-double: 33 points, 12 assists, 11 rebounds — when he got a call from Davis.
“I thought it was a hoax, people messing around, whatever,” James said via CBS Sports. “But then, when AD called me, AD FaceTimed me, and I talked to him for quite a while. Even when I got off the phone with him, it still didn’t seem real. It didn’t seem real until I saw Luka today, and I saw a clip of AD at the Dallas shootaround. That’s when it finally hit me, like, oh s***, this is real.”
