LeBron James Had One Major Concern About Lakers’ Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis Trade

The news of Luka Dončić’s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers is still fresh, and fans are still grappling with it. The Slovenian star was unexpectedly traded to L.A. in a stunning three-team deal that also saw Anthony Davis go to Dallas.

Now, it’s expected that LeBron James will take a backseat to Dončić. James, like many in the NBA, apparently didn’t learn of the trade until the very last moment. This raises the question of how James felt about Davis, his long-time teammate, being traded for Dončić.

It turns out, James had one major concern regarding the trade. Surprisingly, his concern wasn’t about the trade itself but about how Davis would react to it. According to The Athletic, James’ first response to the trade was one of concern for his former teammate.

“That’s why James was not upset by the trade, a league source said,” the article reported. “He was shocked when his agent Rich Paul, who also represents Davis, informed him of the trade… According to the same source, James’ primary worry was Davis’ emotional response to the move.”

James, however, viewed the trade as a “business decision” that the Lakers had to make. Although parting with their best defender is difficult in the short term, the hope is that Dončić will help them compete now while also securing the team’s future after James’ eventual retirement.

Currently sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference, the Lakers now need to adjust their strategy with their new star player. For this season, the team sacrificed their defensive anchor in exchange for one of the league’s top offensive players. However, they will have to wait a bit for Dončić’s debut, as he’s still recovering from a calf injury he suffered in December.