Windhorst: NBA All-Star Texted 'Do You Know How Much the Mavericks Must Hate Luka?'

With the fallout from Saturday's shocking trade that Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, per ESPN's Shams Charania, continuing, one NBA All-Star reportedly suggested there may be some bad blood when it comes to Dončić and his former team.

"The story of the moment and what my phone is filling up with is the reaction to the Dallas Mavericks making this move," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said. "I had a current NBA All-Star text me and say, 'Do you know how much the Mavericks must hate Luka?' This is what they're talking about in the league."

It wouldn't be hyperbole to call this one of the most stunning trades in NBA history.

Everything from the timing to the names involved and what it means for the Mavericks as an organization combined to the point that some were wondering if Charania's social-media accounts had been hacked to report a false trade.

On the surface, even landing Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers' 2029 first-round draft pick doesn't seem like enough for Dallas to give up Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris.

After all, Dončić is 25 years old and was the presumed face of the franchise for the foreseeable future for the Mavericks. He is signed through the 2025-26 season with a player option for 2026-27, and, as Windhorst pointed out, was eligible to remain there on a five-year, $345 million supermax extension he could have signed during the upcoming offseason.

What's more, he just led the team to the NBA Finals last season.

But there was clearly a disconnect there that prevented him from remaining with the only NBA team he has ever known, especially if the front office was willing to trade him for a 31-year-old Anthony Davis that likely has a shorter peak window of performance.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported Dallas had grown frustrated with Dončić's conditioning and believed it contributed to some of his injury concerns. That surely played a role, but it still remains shocking in hindsight.

So shocking that an All-Star suggested there may even be "hate" as a driving factor.