LeBron James’ raw, three-letter reaction — “WTF” — perfectly captured the shockwaves that rippled through the NBA when the Los Angeles Lakers traded Anthony Davis for Luka Dončić.
According to NBA journalist Yaron Weitzman’s new book A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers, the bombshell moment — reported by The New York Post — blindsided the Lakers superstar while he was having dinner with his family in New York, fresh off a dominant win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The trade, finalized on February 2, instantly became one of the most shocking midseason transactions in league history. Even LeBron’s own son, Bronny, was the first to inform him — relaying the stunning development from ESPN insider Shams Charania’s viral tweet into the Lakers’ players’ group chat.
Everyone thought Shams’ account had been hacked.
Anthony Davis’ Reaction: ‘Did These Guys Just Trade Me?’
If LeBron’s response was disbelief, Davis’ was outright devastation.
“Did these [N-word] just trade me?” Davis wrote in the group chat before wishing his teammates luck and abruptly leaving, according to Weitzman’s account.
Davis, who shared not only a championship but a deep personal friendship and Klutch Sports representation with James, was blindsided by a deal that reshaped both his career and the Lakers’ future.
“When it happened, I honestly didn’t know [expletive],” Davis later told the Los Angeles Times in late February. “He’s been my running mate for six years… so the first thing I wanted to do was call him.”
The Trade That Changed the Lakers Forever
Getty The Anthony Davis-LeBron James produced one championship for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
Weitzman’s book describes the scene vividly: LeBron scrolling his phone in disbelief as Bronny broke the news, wondering if the tweet was fake. The star forward later said he didn’t believe the trade was real until he saw video of Davis participating in the Dallas Mavericks’ shootaround.
“My emotions were all over the place,” James admitted days later. “At first, I thought it was a hoax. But AD FaceTimed me, and even after that, it didn’t seem real until I saw Luka today.”
That night, the balance of power in Los Angeles shifted. The Lakers’ front office, led by general manager Rob Pelinka and governor Jeanie Buss, made a stunning pivot — moving from a roster designed around Davis to one built for the future with Dončić.
The organization’s prior moves — hiring JJ Redick as head coach and flipping D’Angelo Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith — had seemingly reinforced their commitment to Davis. Instead, the February blockbuster signaled a new direction: Dončić as LeBron’s heir apparent in Hollywood.
Secrecy Inside the Lakers Front Office
According to multiple reports, only Buss and Pelinka were aware of the deal before it was finalized. On the Mavericks’ side, the knowledge was limited to general manager Nico Harrison and governor Patrick Dumont.
Pelinka personally called Davis to break the news — a call that Davis reportedly ended in disbelief before immediately FaceTiming LeBron.
“I don’t know if I ever got the real story,” Davis later told the Los Angeles Times. “The front office has to do what’s best for the organization, but I don’t know what’s true or what’s not coming from upstairs.”
Fallout and Davis’ First Return to Los Angeles
When Davis returned to Crypto.com Arena as a Maverick weeks later, the emotions were still raw. Following a February 26 matchup that saw the Lakers defeat Dallas, he addressed the trade publicly.
“Everybody’s saying nobody knew and all this other [expletive],” Davis told the Los Angeles Times. “I just don’t believe it. But, hey man, I’m past that. I’m ready to move forward with Dallas, try to get a championship there with these guys.”
Still, the pain was evident — the abrupt end to a six-year partnership that delivered the Lakers a championship but also revealed how unforgiving the NBA’s business side can be.
Legacy of a Hollywood Earthquake
The Anthony Davis-for-Luka Dončić trade will go down as one of the boldest and most polarizing moves in Lakers history — a moment that marked the end of the “LeBron & AD” era and the dawn of a new superstar era led by Dončić.
For LeBron James, it was another reminder that no one — not even a best friend or co-star — is immune from the ruthless logic of the NBA.
“I’ve seen it all,” James said later. “But this one? This was different.”
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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