Luka Doncic Trade Sparks Reactions from Mavericks’ Jaden Hardy

Dallas, Texas — The NBA was thrown into chaos last year after the Dallas Mavericks traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and other players. Mavericks shooting guard Jaden Hardy reflected on his emotions when he first learned about the trade.

“I found out basically at the same time as everyone else in the world,” Hardy recounted. “It was late, and I think we were on the road in Cleveland. I was hanging out in my room and that’s when I started hearing a bunch of people yelling. I peeked out of my room and saw a bunch of the guys freaking out, telling me to look at my phone. That’s when I saw it, and I was like, ‘Oh snap!’ Except I probably didn’t say snap.”

Hardy admitted he didn’t believe the news at first. “It was a crazy moment for all of us. Nobody knew. No matter what anyone says, nobody knew about this. But that’s in the past now, and the team we have this year, we are excited. Our mind is on winning a championship,” he said.

The trade occurred just months after Doncic and the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals, falling short to the Boston Celtics. Hardy also acknowledged Doncic’s positive influence as a teammate. “Luka was a great teammate and a great guy to have in the locker room. A lot of guys, including myself, loved playing with him. He always showed me love from the moment I joined the team, so I wish him the best,” Hardy stated.

Viewing the upcoming matchups against his former teammate, Hardy emphasized that competition remains central. “Whenever we play him, it will always be tough to see him on the other side, but we are out there competing. That’s what we do.”