Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers still remembers his reaction when the news broke last February that Luka Dončić had been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I thought it was AI — honest to God,” Rivers said before Monday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks. “I didn’t believe it. I even texted about it and said, ‘This isn’t true, this is AI.’ And then I was told it was real, and I was shocked.”
The deal, completed in February 2025, reshaped the NBA landscape. It was a three-team trade involving the Mavericks, Lakers, and Utah Jazz, sending Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick to Dallas.
Rivers, who’s witnessed some of the league’s most seismic trades during his coaching tenure, said the fan reaction to Dončić’s departure was unlike anything he’s ever seen.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Rivers said. “When I was traded, 17 people showed up. That’s it. What happened with Luka was unbelievable. It was awesome for him — obviously tough for people here — but when you make deals, you live with them. Whether they’re good or bad, you’ve got to live with them.”
Doc Rivers on Luka Dončić Trade: “The Whole Luka Thing Just Doesn’t Go Away”
Nine months later, the ripple effects of that trade are still felt across the league — and especially in Dallas. The Mavericks, now led by Anthony Davis and rookie forward Cooper Flagg, have endured a challenging start to the new season at 3–7, trying to stabilize through injuries and a restructured rotation.
Rivers said the Mavericks’ situation reminds him of a team still searching for its footing after a major identity shift.
“They should be [a talking point],” Rivers said. “Getting Cooper, waiting on Kyrie to come back healthy — they remind me of a college football team ranked number one but missing their quarterback. They’ll be a good basketball team. They just have to weather the storm. The whole Luka thing just doesn’t go away — and it won’t. That’s a rough one.”
Perspective From a Coach Who’s Been There
Rivers, who’s been both a participant and observer in blockbuster NBA moves, understands the emotional toll trades can have on players, franchises, and fan bases.
“When you make deals, you live with them,” Rivers said. “Whether they’re good or bad, you’ve got to live with them.”
For Dallas, that reality means continuing to evolve under head coach Jason Kidd while Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg take center stage. The franchise’s future may look different, but its expectations remain high — something Rivers said is natural when a market adjusts after losing a superstar.
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