Former Dallas Mavericks guard Derek Harper believes Luka Doncic’s long-term NBA story may nonetheless finish the place it began, even after one of the most controversial trades in franchise history sent the superstar to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Talking candidly concerning the deal that moved Doncic out of Dallas, Harper admitted he struggles to grasp the group’s choice and stated he nonetheless expects the Slovenian star to ultimately end his profession with the Mavericks.
“I like Nico [Harrison], Nico is my buddy, however I’d not need my identify on that commerce if I ever had something to do with the NBA,” Harper stated on Run It Again, through HoopsHype. “You look again, you gave away what, 30 factors, eight and 9, you gave it to any person else for a man that’s not in your roster.”
Harper added: “That one is tough to get round. It’s simply one thing on the time I believe they thought of doing and so they have been fast to react, and it simply didn’t work out, particularly right here in Dallas. Individuals love Luka right here. I believe he’ll ultimately retire a Maverick.”
Harper’s feedback mirror the lingering frustration round Dallas after the Mavericks moved on from a participant who had already established himself as one of many league’s elite offensive engines earlier than turning 27.
Doncic spent seven seasons in Dallas after arriving because the No. 3 choose within the 2018 NBA Draft. Throughout his Mavericks tenure, he averaged 28.6 factors, 8.7 rebounds and eight.3 assists per recreation whereas incomes a number of All-NBA First Group picks and annual MVP consideration.
The numbers help Harper’s argument about what Dallas gave up. Doncic averaged a minimum of 27 factors per recreation in every season from 2019-20 onward and reached a career-high 33.9 factors in 2023-24, whereas additionally working as considered one of basketball’s highest-usage playmakers.
Throughout the 2024-25 season, Doncic cut up time between Dallas and Los Angeles after the commerce, averaging 28.2 factors, 8.2 rebounds and seven.7 assists in 50 video games. He adopted that by posting 33.5 factors, 7.7 rebounds and eight.3 assists for the Lakers in 2025-26, once more incomes All-NBA First Group recognition.
