Mike Budenholzer shared his reaction to the surprising trade of Luka Doncic on Saturday evening, admitting it took him by surprise, just like many others. After the Suns’ 127-108 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Phoenix Suns head coach expressed his thoughts. “It’s buzzing back in the locker room a bit,” Budenholzer said, according to AZCentral’s Duane Rankin. “It’s the NBA. There’s always something happening. Other than that, it’s obviously two of the great players in our league. So, we’ll all talk about it, and we’ll all have opinions about it.”
The trade left many across the NBA stunned, with reactions coming from Suns players, Blazers players, and even analysts. No one saw such a major move coming, especially not sending a franchise star like Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. For the Suns, who were on a road back-to-back, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal were seen checking their phones and reacting to the news, further reflecting the widespread shock throughout the league.
Despite the Mavericks’ commitment to Doncic as their franchise player, the trade showed that no one is truly safe in the NBA. Even though NBA players are viewed as athletes, they are also humans with emotions and thoughts. The sudden trade of an MVP candidate was a jarring moment. The only players truly safe from trades are LeBron James and Bradley Beal, thanks to their no-trade clauses, giving them the power to approve or veto trades.
As the February 6 trade deadline approaches, more reactions will emerge, and the Suns may consider making a move themselves.
