Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic responded to comments made by Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison.

Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a basket during the second quarter against the Houston Rocket
© Katelyn MulcahyLuka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a basket during the second quarter against the Houston Rocket

The Los Angeles Lakers received one of their biggest boosts of the NBA season after pulling off a blockbuster trade for former Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic.

The move not only shifted the balance of power in the Western Conference, but also brought to light the fractured relationship between Doncic and Mavs general manager Nico Harrison. Now, the 26-year-old star is finally addressing the situation.

Doncic has remained relatively quiet since the trade, but in a recent sit-down interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, the All-NBA guard made it clear he was disappointed by how Harrison has publicly handled the deal.

“It’s just sad the way he’s talking right now,” Doncic said. “I never said anything bad about him, and I just want to move on. The fans, my ex-teammates — I’ll always keep them in my heart. But it’s time for me to move on from there.”

Harrison, who defended the Mavericks’ decision by citing a belief that “defense wins championships,” appeared to imply that Doncic’s limitations on that end of the floor were a factor in the trade.

That didn’t sit well with Doncic, who chose not to fire back directly but acknowledged the sting.

Nico Harrison GM of the Dallas Mavericks

General Manager Nico Harrison of the Dallas Mavericks walks off the court after warmups before the Dallas Mavericks take on the Utah Jazz in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 25, 2022 in Dallas, Texas.

Doncic reflects on his time in Dallas

The Slovenian star spent 6½ seasons in Dallas, building a NBA legacy as one of the franchise’s all-time greats. While he’s focused on the future, the emotional toll of the move is evident.

“I mean, it’s painful, depending on how you take it,” Doncic said. “It mostly came from Dallas, so I didn’t want to talk back. But I don’t really read that much stuff.

I’m just trying to focus on my journey.” Doncic even shared a personal moment from the day of the trade. He showed Andrews his cellphone — still cracked — from when he threw it across the room after learning the news.

“I was actually in bed,” Doncic recalled. “My TV wasn’t working, so I was on my iPad watching a movie, about to fall asleep. First thing I said, probably three times, was, ‘Is this an April 1st joke?’”

Doncic on his initial reaction

The emotional shock was real, and Doncic didn’t shy away from describing how deeply the move affected him. “Sadness, mostly,” he said. “I was still in shock. Like, crazy shock. I felt like my heart was broken, honestly.”

Now more than two months into his Lakers tenure, Doncic admitted that he’s starting to settle in. But when asked whether he ever envisioned playing his entire career with the Mavericks, the answer came quickly: “Of course,” he said. “That’s an easy question.”