Despite the magnitude of the deal, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison revealed that head coach Jason Kidd was not involved in the trade discussions.
“Let’s be clear: I’m the one making the decision and J (Kidd) is supportive of it,” Harrison stated.
At a press conference, Kidd expressed his backing for Harrison’s vision for the team, even with the departure of an All-NBA star.
“As Nico brought up, we are aligned,” Kidd said, per Brad Townsend. “When you look at the vision of the team and what Nico wants to build, I truly support that.”Doncic has been one of the NBA’s top young stars since entering the league in 2018. Before his rookie season, he had already gained professional experience playing for Real Madrid in the Euroleague.
Throughout his career, Doncic has earned five All-Star and five All-NBA selections, won Rookie of the Year, and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in the 2023-24 season.
This season, he’s averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game but has been sidelined with a calf injury since December 25, 2024. He now joins a Lakers squad currently ranked fifth in the Western Conference with a 28-19 record.
