After the Dallas Mavericks traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis (among other pieces) last year, the NBA world was turned on its head.
Chaos ensued from all corners of the basketball community, as fans and pundits alike shared their disbelief for weeks after the shocking deal went through. Mavericks shooting guard Jaden Hardy revealed to Clutch Points’ Brett Siegel what was going through his mind on the day of the deal, and how he found out about the astonishing move.
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“I found out basically at the same time as everyone else in the world,” Hardy said. “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.
“I didn’t even believe it 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.”
The trade was made just a few months after Doncic and the Mavericks made an NBA Finals run, but ultimately fell short to the Boston Celtics.
As much of a difference-maker Doncic is on the floor, the young shooting guard also spoke on his impact as a locker room presence.
“I mean, the trade was definitely questioned by all of us and the fans when it first happened,” Hardy said. “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. That’s my guy. 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.”
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