The Los Angeles Lakers’ internal group chat became the center of a seismic NBA moment when news of a blockbuster trade broke. According to Yaron Weitzman’s new book, the stunning revelation was delivered by an unexpected team member, sparking immediate and stunned reactions from the team’s biggest stars. Rookie Bronny James was the first to share the league-altering news within the private chat.

He posted the breaking report from insider Shams Charania that detailed the trade sending Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Dončić. This initial post left the players questioning the information’s validity, wondering if the source had been hacked.

Anthony Davis then personally entered the conversation to address the swirling rumors. He wrote, “Did these n—– just trade me?” according to details from Yaron Weitzman’s book “A Hollywood Ending.” The star forward subsequently wished his now former teammates good luck with their future games. He then made the final move of exiting the group chat entirely.

LeBron James responded to the chaotic sequence of messages with a simple, three-letter question. He posted “WTF” in the chat after seeing Davis’s message and departure.

The trade was officially confirmed on February 2, 2025, uniting Dončić with his childhood idol James in Los Angeles. The deal also involved the Utah Jazz and included several additional players and draft picks.

It was the first time two reigning All-NBA players (Doncic on the First Team, Davis on the Second) flipped teams, reshaping the West’s hierarchy overnight. What made it “unfathomable,” per ESPN’s reporting, wasn’t just the stars involved but the clandestine execution.

Neither coach (Jason Kidd for Dallas, JJ Redick for Lakers) knew until post-agreement. Kidd’s reaction? Pure “shock,” though he later endorsed it for the “right move forward.” Teammates learned via social media- Kyrie Irving mid-treatment in Cleveland, reacting with stunned silence.

On the Lakers’ side, Pelinka’s post-deal protocol was surgical: a joint call with Davis and Redick, then Davis’ agent Rich Paul (Klutch Sports), and finally LeBron James.

Unlike the 2019 Davis saga (which fractured the Pelicans), Lakers ownership, front office, and coaching staff unanimously greenlit it after Dallas approached. They viewed Doncic (25, five straight All-NBA First Teams) as the “face for the next decade,” solving post-LeBron succession.

Davis averaged 20 points and 9.6 rebounds over nine games with the Mavericks but battled injuries that limited his impact.

Dončić stepped into the purple and gold lineup averaging 28.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game after the swap, quickly cementing his role as the Lakers’ new franchise cornerstone.

On that note let’s further discuss how Luka himself reflected on the trade that changed everything.

Luka’s feelings on the infamous trade

Luka Doncic has publicly addressed the emotional weight of his blockbuster move from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. The star guard described the period as mentally draining following the Lakers’ early exit from the playoffs.

His candid comments came during a press conference that concluded his first, abbreviated season with the legendary franchise.

Doncic admitted the entire experience left him feeling worn out. He stated, “I’m mentally kind of exhausted from everything that happened.”

He explained that he now needs a period to properly reflect on the whirlwind of events. The point guard added, “I think now it’s time to process everything.”

The trade sent Doncic to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis in one of the most surprising deals of the season. He acknowledged that reports about his relationships in Dallas were painful but chose to focus on his new journey.

He shared, “It mostly came from Dallas, so I didn’t want to talk back.” His primary goal is to move forward from the situation.

Despite teaming up with LeBron James, the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. This outcome fell short of the high expectations that followed the major roster change.