Back in February, the Los Angeles Lakers shocked the basketball world by landing Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the trade deadline. In the trade, the Lakers sent Anthony Davis to Dallas. The deal came out of nowhere as there were no rumors or reports suggesting Doncic was a potential trade candidate.
Though Doncic and the Lakers suffered a first-round playoff elimination to the Minnesota Timberwolves, there are reasons for fans to be excited about the team’s future outlook. Doncic recently turned 26 years old and is one of the best players in the league who may continue to improve from here on out.
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Doncic is eligible for a contract extension this summer, and all eyes will be on him and the Lakers until something becomes official. Regardless, even a few months after the trade, there are many people who cannot believe Doncic is a Laker. This includes a former Golden State Warriors star, who recently made a notable statement regarding the Slovenian native.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77).Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
There are few former NBA players who can relate to the Doncic trade as it is arguably the most shocking deal in league history. Still, former NBA star Monta Ellis recently compared his trade away from Golden State to the Doncic trade.
“I love Golden State, you know what I mean? They gave me my opportunity. The way it went down is what really hurt me or affected me. And it’s similar to what happened to Luka Doncic,” Ellis said on the Out the Mod podcast about his trade from the Warriors in 2012.
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Ellis spent parts of his first seven seasons in the NBA with the Warriors before they traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2012. During his time in Golden State, Ellis was one of the most exciting players to watch alongside Stephen Curry and won the Most Improved Player award for the 2006-07 season.
While not as big of a blockbuster deal as the Doncic trade, the Warriors trading Ellis was a shock at the time. Furthermore, like how Doncic made it clear that he still has love for Dallas even after the trade, Ellis said the same about Golden State. It may not be the exact same, but Ellis provides an interesting perspective on the Lakers landing the five-time All-Star.
Related: Luka Doncic Makes Admission About Career Plans After Lakers Trade
Related: New Report on JJ Redick’s Lakers Future After Loss to Timberwolves