While more than 48 hours have passed since the Mavericks traded their star player Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers, the dust is yet to settle on the matter and slowly but steadily the reverberations of the unexpected transfer are reaching the big names of the NBA. On Monday, Nuggets' star Center Nikola Jokic paid heed to the whole scenario and summed it up by stating that, "nobody is safe in the league."
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Nikola Jokic On Luka Doncic's Shock Transfer to LA Lakers
Luka Doncic was an integral part of the Dallas Mavericks. The Point Guard had proven his mettle for the team time and again. Moreover, there are countless cases when he singlehandedly won the game for the Mavs. Yet somehow the franchise came to the decision of letting go of their talisman. Nikola Jokic, who enjoys the same stature with the Denver Nuggets as Doncic had as a Mav, expressed his thoughts on the bombshell trade development on Monday following the successful outing against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Addressing Luka Doncic's trade, Jokic revealed that he "texted him" after the whole deal transpired.
Jokic divulged, “He felt, he didn’t expect it, of course. I think he just needs to be with his family right now, it’s a big move,” he continued.
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It's Just Business in the End
Reflecting on the trade, Jokic reminded everyone that nothing is permanent and at the end of the day "It's a business". There are always players who have been considered "untouchable" in a franchise, a list which up until Saturday included Luka Doncic as well.
“Nobody expected, especially not him[Luka Doncic]. I think nobody is safe in the league.”
After sharing the shock that Luka and the rest of the league felt, Jokic spoke about how he thinks the 25-year-old would be just fine in Los Angeles. “He’s going to do a good job. I think he’s the player for the big scene, even though I thought in Dallas he had something special going.”
Luka Doncic is expected to make his debut for the Lakers on Saturday against the Pacers.