Nikola Jokic, star player for the Denver Nuggets, was just as shocked as the rest of the NBA community when his close friend Luka Doncic was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in a major deal. The trade sent ripples through the league, with Doncic joining the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round draft pick. Additionally, LA secured Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris. “This is probably the biggest trade – I’m not going to say in history – but at least in the past 10 to 15 years,” Jokic remarked after the Nuggets’ 125-113 victory over the Pelicans on Monday. “It feels like nobody is safe, and that’s probably how it should be.” Jokic added that he has already spoken to Doncic since the trade and believes he’ll succeed in Los Angeles.

“I don’t think he expected it, of course. He just needs to be with family right now. It’s part of the business,” Jokic noted. “But I’m confident he’ll perform well. He’s a player who thrives on the big stage. Still, I thought he had something really special going on in Dallas.” Doncic has been nursing a calf injury that has kept him out since Christmas, but he’s expected to return soon. Before the injury, Doncic had been averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists across 22 games.