New York Metropolis will at all times be a small a part of the Luka Doncic commerce that stupefied the NBA.
On Feb. 1, 2025, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Knicks of their annual journey to Madison Sq. Backyard.
A number of hours later, the Lakers acquired the generational Doncic in a middle-of-the-night blockbuster with the Dallas Mavericks that even LeBron James mentioned he initially suspected was a hoax.
It was becoming, then, that the Lakers have been again on the Backyard on Sunday night time for the one-year anniversary of that NBA-altering commerce — and that Doncic dazzled, even in a shedding effort, 112-100, in opposition to the Knicks.
“I think we’re in a good spot,” Doncic, 26, mentioned after Sunday’s defeat. “Obviously, we have some work to do … but I think we have a great group.”
Taking part in on the Backyard for the primary time as a Laker, Doncic scored 30 factors on 10-of-23 capturing with 15 rebounds and eight assists in 37 minutes.
Doncic delivered his share of highlights, together with a 71-second stretch within the first quarter through which he made a 3-pointer, discovered Rui Hachimura for an alley-oop dunk, after which drilled one other 3-pointer.
Within the second quarter, after Josh Hart made a 3-pointer for the Knicks, Doncic answered on the opposite finish by sinking a step-back 3-pointer — over Hart. Ever the showman, Doncic tapped Hart on the bottom after the ball swished by the web.
And within the third quarter, Doncic unleashed a spin transfer on Landry Shamet, then stepped again and made one other powerful 3-pointer.
That spotlight occurred in entrance of Knicks superfan Spike Lee, whom Doncic appeared to level to on his approach again up the courtroom, incomes a smile from the Oscar-winning filmmaker.
However Doncic managed solely three factors within the fourth quarter because the Knicks (31-18) pulled away for his or her sixth consecutive win.
That was maybe consultant of the state of the Lakers (29-19), who usually are not a completed product a yr after the commerce.
“I like this group, but we’ve got to get better,” mentioned James, who completed with 22 factors, 5 rebounds and 6 assists in what might find yourself being his closing sport on the Backyard.
“And that’s good. We should want to get better. It’s only Feb. 1.”
Doncic is averaging an NBA-best 33.6 factors, 8.0 rebounds and eight.8 assists per sport, making him a MVP contender, however the Lakers completed Sunday tied for sixth place within the Western Convention.
Because the commerce, Doncic has solidified himself because the Lakers’ major playmaker underneath head coach J.J. Redick, with the 41-year-old James accepting that passing of the torch.
“Obviously, it’s a little bit of change with a different team, different players,” Doncic mentioned. “But I talk with J.J. a lot [about] coming off the ball and all the other stuff. It’s been good for me. Not really changing that much. Just a little bit.”
James has mentioned he was at dinner within the metropolis when he discovered the Lakers have been buying Doncic in a deal that despatched Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round choose again to Dallas.
Redick knew the deal was nearing the end line earlier than he left for the Backyard earlier than final yr’s win over the Knicks.
“I found the steam room at the hotel and was just in a really thoughtful space, I thought,” Redick recalled earlier than Sunday’s sport. “And then Coach Ty [Abbott] walked in and was like, ‘What the [expletive] is wrong with you?’ I guess I was stressed out, but I managed it well during the game.”
A yr later, seeing the Slovenian sensation in gold and purple nonetheless appears unusual to many, together with Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who performed with Doncic for 4 years with the Mavericks.
“We all expected him to be in Dallas for the longest time,” Brunson mentioned after scoring 12 factors with seven rebounds and 13 assists in Sunday’s win.
“Now he’s a Laker and playing great and still doing the things he does.”
After the commerce, Doncic expressed disbelief, saying he anticipated to spend his total profession with the Mavericks, whom he had led to the NBA Finals lower than eight months earlier.
Mavericks followers revolted, holding protests outdoors of Dallas’ American Airways Heart and calling for the firing of basic supervisor Nico Harrison. When the Mavericks fired Harrison in November, they have been simply 16-28 since buying and selling Doncic.
Dallas followers can take some solace realizing final yr’s post-trade slide helped them get the No. 1 choose within the 2025 draft lottery, touchdown them a brand new phenom in Cooper Flagg.
However the Mavericks’ lack of the dynamic Doncic stays Los Angeles’ achieve — even when the new-look Lakers stay a piece in progress.
“We’re 29-19 right now,” James mentioned. “We’ve had some really good moments. We’ve had some not good moments. We want to continue to build off of that.”
