Luka Doncic shared a deeply personal story about the night he learned of his trade from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. Doncic revealed that upon receiving the news, he threw his phone in frustration, shattering the back glass. Remarkably, he still uses the same phone today.
Doncic, who had been the face of the Mavericks since being drafted in 2018, was blindsided by the trade announcement.
“I was actually in bed, my TV wasn’t working, so I was on an iPad watching a movie about to go to sleep,” Doncic recounted. When the call came through, he initially thought it was a prank. “First thing I said probably three times was, ‘Is it April 1st?’… I felt sadness mostly. I was still in shock. I felt like my heart was broken, honestly.”
Overwhelmed by the news, Doncic admitted to throwing his phone in frustration, causing the back glass to shatter. Despite the damage, he continues to use the phone, describing it as a memento of a pivotal moment in his career.
Luka Doncic tells @malika_andrews about throwing his phone and breaking it when he found out he got traded to the Lakers 😳
“My heart was broken honestly.” 💔 pic.twitter.com/rfsIGlOaBC
— ESPN (@espn) April 18, 2025
For Doncic, the shattered phone represents more than just a device—it symbolizes the emotional weight of leaving the Mavericks, a team he had hoped to lead to a championship in the footsteps of Dirk Nowitzki. The trade to the Lakers, while a dream for many players, marked the end of Doncic’s vision of bringing a title to Dallas.
Since joining the Lakers, Doncic has embraced his new role, averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. As the team prepares for the playoffs, Doncic remains focused on proving his worth and helping the Lakers contend for a championship.
