The shock of Luka Dončić being traded from the Dallas Mavericks still lingers across the NBA landscape, and Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is among those still processing it.
Mahomes, a longtime Mavericks fan and former Texas Tech standout, recently spoke about his reaction to the trade in a recent interview with For The Win. He shared that he was stunned by the news and immediately woke his wife to share it.
“It took me a while [to process everything],” Mahomes said. “I was actually at home when the Dončić trade happened in bed, like I’m sure a lot of people were, and I remember rolling over and waking my wife up to tell her, like she cared as much as I did.”
“She put on a good face for me,” he added, “but she rolled over, went back to sleep, and it kept me up for a couple hours.”
The Dončić trade, completed during the 2024–25 NBA season, sent the 26-year-old perennial MVP candidate to the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the most stunning deals in league history. The move came as Dončić was entering his prime and sparked disbelief across the league, prompting reporters like Shams Charania to confirm they hadn’t been hacked when initially reporting the news.
The trade left many Mavericks fans reeling. Dončić had become the face of the franchise since being drafted in 2018, leading Dallas to multiple playoff runs and earning four All-NBA First Team selections. His departure signaled the end of an era—and the start of a new one.
While the trade sent shockwaves through the fanbase, the Mavericks’ fortunes quickly shifted after landing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and selecting forward Cooper Flagg. Mahomes, like many fans, expressed optimism about the team’s future.
“Exciting for me to win the draft lottery, a roller coaster of emotions, and getting Cooper Flagg now, it’s going to be an amazing team,” Mahomes said. “Get everybody back healthy, and we’ll have as good a chance as anybody at making a run at the title this next year.”
Flagg, considered one of the most talented prospects in recent memory, is expected to become a foundational piece for the Mavericks as they reset their roster around a new core.
The Mavericks are still in offseason mode, with the potential for more roster changes ahead of training camp. While Dončić has already begun training with the Lakers, reports indicate he’s been working out intensely as he prepares for his next chapter in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, Mahomes and Mavericks fans will be watching closely as the team moves forward with Cooper Flagg, hoping the transition from one superstar to another can eventually lead back to title contention.
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