An NBA scout has said how Luka Doncic feels about the Dallas Mavericks after they traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Dallas traded Doncic in one of the biggest player moves in NBA history last season. It was reported that the Mavericks thought Doncic was out of shape and had concerns about his health habits.
Doncic underwent a massive body transformation this off-season and now looks in the shape of his life. He is playing for Slovenia in the build-up to the 2025 EuroBasket, and looks phenomenal.
Half a year on from the trade, an NBA scout said Doncic is motivated by what Dallas did.
NBA scout says Luka Doncic is out for revenge against the Dallas Mavericks
Doncic, who scored 19 points in 24 minutes in a pre-EuroBasket friendly, looks at his brilliant best. He is a favourite for MVP as the LA Lakers eye the NBA championship.
An NBA scout told the Dallas Hoops Journal, “Man, he looks incredible. He’s quicker and more explosive. He’s getting by people more easily.
“I think he’s on a mission, man. I think he’s gonna win MVP and the scoring title next season. He wants to get revenge on Dallas for basically fat-shaming him.”
Doncic sent a sly dig at the Mavericks after he was featured on the cover of Men’s Health Magazine this summer. “They probably saw it,” he said.
Alongside LeBron James, who considered leaving LA but looks set to stay, Doncic expects a championship in LA.
Luka Doncic expects a championship for the LA Lakers
In a press conference after his contract extension, Doncic made his goals with the Lakers clear. He said, “I don’t want to wait. I had a taste of the Finals. I am getting back there. So let’s do whatever we can now.”
Doncic made the NBA Finals with the Mavericks, losing to the Boston Celtics in 2024, and is determined to return. It’ll be tough in a brutal Western Conference.
While the East is wide open in part thanks to Jayson Tatum’s injury, the West is going to be a gauntlet. The NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, kept all their key pieces. Meanwhile nearly all the other contending teams made big moves.
The Houston Rockets traded for Kevin Durant, and the Nuggets filled out their roster around Nikola Jokic. The Lakers’ LA rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers, added Bradley Beal to join James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
The goal is always championships for the NBA’s most successful franchise. But for whichever team comes out of the West this year, it’ll be one of the most impressive achievements in the league’s history.