LeBron initially doubted Luka trade: 'Thought it was a hoax'
Even LeBron James had his doubts.
The Los Angeles Lakers star admitted following Tuesday's 122-97 win over the Los Angeles Clippers that he initially didn't believe his team had actually acquired five-time All-Star Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks.
"My emotions were all over the place. Obviously we had just come off a big win, huge win at the Garden. I was out - you guys seen the report - I was out with my family at dinner and got the news," he said in his first meeting with reporters since the trade, courtesy of ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "The first time I heard it, I thought it was for sure fake. Thought it was a hoax. People messing around, whatever.
"But then when (Anthony Davis) 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. And it still pretty much didn't seem real until I saw Luka today and then I saw the clip of AD at the Dallas shootaround. That's when it finally hit me, like, 'Oh shit, this is real.'"
Doncic didn't play in the Lakers' victory over their city rivals as he continues to recover from a calf strain sustained on Christmas Day. However, he was seated next to James on the bench during the game, including the final six minutes of the contest, when Bronny James checked in for the first time and scored his first career NBA three.
With a 15-year age gap between the two stars, Doncic is set to be the face of the franchise when the 40-year-old James retires. The 22-year vet said he had no issue with the Lakers potentially taking a longer-term approach with their headline acquisition.
"What's wrong with that?" James said. "If I had concerns, I would've waived my no-trade clause and got up out of here."
When asked if he still felt he would retire as a Laker, James reiterated his dedication to the franchise.
"Listen, we don't ... I'm here right now. I'm committed to the Lakers organization," he said. "I'm here to help Luka and Maxi (Kleber) make the transition as smooth as possible. (Markieff Morris) been here before so he already knows what we're about. We won a championship with him in 2020. I ain't worried about him.
"But as the leader of the team, one of the captains of the team, it's my job to make it as seamless as possible."
Doncic is reportedly targeting a return Saturday when L.A. hosts the Indiana Pacers, and James said he's not sure what the Lakers' gameplan will look like when the two share the court.
"It's kind of hard right now to kind of digest what it's going to look like on the floor," James said, courtesy of Ben Golliver of The Washington Post. "Obviously two selfless competitors, love seeing the success of our teammates. Luka's been my favorite player in the NBA for a while now. I think you guys know that.
"I've always just tried to play the game the right way and inspire the next generation. Luka happens to be one of them and now we're teammates. It will be a very seamless transition."