Slovenian basketball star Luka Doncic expressed his gratitude on social media to the Dallas, Texas community and his fans, where his NBA career flourished, following his trade from the Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Doncic shared that seven years ago, he arrived in Dallas as a teenager with the dream of playing basketball at "the highest level."
"I thought I'd spend my career here and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship," said Doncic.
"The love and support you all have given me is more than I could have ever dreamed of," he added.
#MFFL pic.twitter.com/qVMcV2uh5m
— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) February 2, 2025
The player went on to say that as a young kid from Slovenia arriving in the United States for the first time, the people of North Texas made him feel right at home.
He noted that "in good times and bad," from injuries to the NBA Finals, the support from the community never wavered, emphasizing that they lifted him when he needed it the most.
Doncic also expressed his gratitude to all the organizations he collaborated with throughout the Dallas community, thanking them for allowing him to contribute to meaningful causes and for helping bring light to those in need.
"As I start the next part of my basketball journey, I am leaving a city that will always feel like a home away from home," Doncic stated.
"Dallas is a special place, and Mavs fans are special fans. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart," he added in closing.
In a separate post on X, Doncic also expressed his gratitude to his new team for the "amazing opportunity," stating that no matter where he plays, basketball means everything to him.
He emphasized that he will continue to play with the same joy, passion, and goal — to win championships.
Over the weekend, NBA fans were shocked by a trade between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers acquired Luka Dončić, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, in the deal.
In return, the Mavericks received forward Anthony Davis, an NBA champion with the Lakers, guard Max Christie, and a future first-round draft pick in 2029.
Doncic is expected to suit up with his new teammates, most notably basketball superstar LeBron James.
