When Luka Doncic got traded to the Lakers, the news hit him like a truck. “My heart was broken honestly.” He told ESPN’s Malika Andrews. As shocking as the trade was for him and the entire hoop community, the way Nico Harrison handled the aftermath of the move was even more surprising. Despite facing the wrath of the Dallas fanbase, the GM claimed he had “no regrets.”

Further backing his decision and highlighting his doubts about contending for the title with Luka as the centerpiece, Nico said, “I keep saying this, but defense wins championships.” Of course, a major reason many speculate Harrison pulled the trigger was Doncic’s lack of conditioning and questionable defense. But what does the Slovenian star think about Nico’s latest comments?

Breaking silence in an interview with Malika, Doncic said, “It’s just sad the way he’s talking right now. I never say anything bad about him and I just want to move on.” Yes, while Nico has constantly thrown shade at Luka since the trade, the Lakers star’s sole focus has been on moving on. That’s because he still has immense love for his former team and the city of Dallas. “The fans, my ex-teammates I always keep at heart, it’s time for me to move on from there.” He added.

When asked if he has spoken to Nico since the trade, Luka immediately replied, “NO.” So, it’s clear that the two are yet to bury the hatchet and get closure on the situation. Meanwhile, Harrison continues to hand out backhanded compliments to the Slovenian star, as he recently said, “Luka is an extremely talented player, as we all know. We’ve all seen he’s probably dropped the most points when maybe he’s not in the best conditioning. So, he can do that, that’s not an issue.”

Even in praise, Harrison couldn’t resist bringing up Luka’s fitness—a familiar talking point throughout their time in Dallas. The conditioning critique has long been the low-hanging fruit for critics, but for Luka, that chapter seems closed.

In LA, Luka is no longer the subject of coded remarks or passive-aggressive media jabs. He’s the centerpiece of a franchise that’s gone all-in. And perhaps most importantly, he’s playing with a chip on his shoulder—one that might just be aimed at the people who once questioned his commitment, his leadership, and yes, his conditioning.

So while Nico Harrison continues to reflect, Luka Doncic is already rewriting the next chapter.

Luka Doncic’s loyalty has shifted to the Lakers after Nico Harrison’s betrayal

Had Nico not betrayed Luka by trading him midseason, the superstar intended to be a Mavs lifer. He even confirmed his intention of finishing his career in Dallas to Malika, “Of course. It’s easy question.” However, the Mavs fumbled it with arguably their biggest superstar since Dirk Nowitzki. But one franchise’s loss is another franchise’s gain.

Now that staying a Mavs lifer is no longer an option, Luka has shifted his loyalty to the Lakers. “Of course, like I say loyalty is to the basketball first.” He remarked. When asked if he wants to stay in LA for the long term, he had a one-word response, “Yes.” That was enough. It means Doncic is likely to ink an extension with the LA team this summer.

Of course, he is no longer eligible for the supermax $345 million deal because of the trade. But he can still bag roughly $165 million for three years to solidify his future with the Lakers. Even veteran insider Brian Windhorst addressed the urgency, “The pressure is on the organization between now and Aug. 2 to get Luka to sign that extension.” Well, Jeanie Buss’ franchise is doing everything they can to make Luka feel at home.

In only two months, he has developed solid chemistry with his new teammates and LeBron James has begun deferring to him on the court. Luka even talked fondly about his time with LBJ, “He has been great since the first day you know. I mean its LeBron, it’s not gonna be easy. He’s been letting me be me this whole time and it’s been amazing to watch him and to play next to him.”

The Lakers’ commitment to making Luka Doncic feel right at home was crystal clear before he even played a single minute in Purple & Gold.

During his first pregame huddle with the team, cameras caught LeBron delivering a message that was both raw and powerful—classic King James energy.

“Luka, be your f—ing self,” LeBron said, as picked up on the ESPN telecast. “Don’t fit in, fit the f— out.”

That wasn’t just hype. That was LeBron passing the torch in real time. And since then, Luka has done exactly that—playing with confidence, freedom, and that signature flair that makes him one of the most dangerous playoff performers in the league.

The result? The Lakers are peaking right when it matters most. With Luka at the controls and their core rounding back into form, L.A. looks locked in and ready to make a serious run. This isn’t just about star power—it’s about timing, momentum, and a team rallying behind its newest leader for what’s shaping up to be a playoff ride worth watching.

If this continues and the Lakers are able to make a deep playoff run, then Luka will not hesitate to give it another go by inking a new deal with the team. Thoughts?