The basketball world is still reeling from the shocking trade of Dallas Mavericks’ superstar player Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Lakers’ star Anthony Davis, but the biggest question it brings up is loyalty to a franchise. Doncic wanted to retire in Dallas and be the face of the franchise forever, but GM Nico Harrison sent him to LA at the first opportunity to. More superstars are questioning the idea of loyalty in the NBA, including the Milwaukee Bucks’ superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
After the Bucks’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Antetokounmpo was asked about the Doncic trade, and he had a lot of thoughts:
After tonight’s game, Giannis Antetokounmpo was asked for his thoughts on Luka Dončić getting traded by the Dallas Mavericks.
Turns out Antetokounmpo had quite a few thoughts on the matter: pic.twitter.com/nNWNpg1LfJ
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) February 3, 2025
It’s an incredibly profound answer from Giannis, who has had his issues with the Bucks’ front office in the past that came with trade rumors. While those seem to be behind him, the idea that every player who was once seen as “untouchable” can get traded on a whim is causing a lot of reflection among the top tier of NBA players.
Antetokounmpo isn’t the only player that feels this way, however. Phoenix Suns’ star Kevin Durant also shared his thoughts on the trade:
“Insane. It’s crazy, crazy.”
Kevin Durant on mega Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade.
“Players are held to a different standard of loyalty and commitment to a program but the organizations don’t get held to that same standard from the outside.”
On teams following suit before Feb.… pic.twitter.com/DekP4eRN6N
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 2, 2025
Even though Antetokounmpo shared some insightful thoughts on the trade, he also ended the answer in the only way he knows how: with jokes.
Don’t let the jokes fool you, though: Antetokounmpo and other NBA stars are looking at the Doncic trade with very trained eyes, because they could be next to go.
