After a transaction that sent shockwaves through the basketball world, the man who orchestrated it all is confident that the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade will pay off for the Lake Show in the long run.
Los Angeles Lakers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka released a statement regarding the trade thanking Davis for his six years with the team.
“We are overwhelmingly thankful for AD’s six seasons with the Lakers, where he led our franchise to a championship and centered himself as a perennial NBA All-Star,” Pelinka said.
Pelinka also thanked the two other Laker players involved in the trade – Max Christie and Jalen Hood-Schifino – for their service.
“We are proud of Max Christie’s development as a Laker as he has grown into an impact 3-and-D player, and we are appreciative of the work Jalen Hood-Schifino has put in to show professionalism at every level,” he continued. “Sports are about transformative moments. We are inspired by these moments Lakers fans know, expect and love with a franchise that continually ushers in new eras of greatness.”
The Lakers GM then turned his attention to the Slovenian superstar who will now don purple and gold and play alongside LeBron James.
“Luka is a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come,” Pelinka’s statement read. “His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for the team.”
“We will be relentless in building a roster around the on-court vision Coach Redick has for this team and there is an unwavering commitment to that work to serve our loyal and dedicated fans,” the statement continued.
Indeed, Doncic, 25, has put up some incredible numbers throughout his short career; he is one of three players in NBA history to be selected to the All-NBA First Team five times before the age of 26 (the others are Tim Duncan, Kevin Durant) and is one of two to record at least 10,000 points, 3,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists through 400 career games (the other is Oscar Robertson).
Doncic is averaging 28 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals per game this season.
In addition to Doncic, the Lakers also acquired Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris from Dallas, the latter of whom won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020.
