In the land of Kobe and LeBron, where legacies are forged under the weight of expectations, Luka Dončić isn’t just stepping into a new jersey—he’s stepping into the fire. His trade to the Los Angeles Lakers wasn’t just another NBA shake-up; it was a statement. When a superstar gets moved, it’s never just about contracts and cap space—it’s about respect, motivation, and proving something to those who dared to doubt. And that feeling? It struck a chord with a former WNBA champion, whose cryptic reaction hinted at a story she knew all too well.

According to a recent post on X, Dearica Hamby 3x WNBA All-Star responded to a Dončić interview by posting a GIF of a duckling smoking and shaking its head—a subtle but loaded reaction. The post she was reacting to quoted Dončić addressing criticisms of his conditioning: “It’s a motive—I know it’s not true—but it’s a motive,” he said. “It’s a big motive for a long run here.”

That response, which came out calm and left people speculating about the frustration laced beneath it, seemed to mirror what Hamby felt when she was traded from the Las Vegas Aces to the Los Angeles Sparks in 2023 under less-than-ideal circumstances. The emoji hints at an unspoken but mutual understanding—Dončić’s move to L.A. might have reminded Hamby of her own.

Hamby had spent eight seasons with the Aces franchise, growing into a key contributor and winning the WNBA’s Sixth Player of the Year award twice. But as the Aces built a championship roster, her role changed. She was benched late in the 2022 season and played a minimal role in their title run. Shortly after the championship parade, she announced her pregnancy, only to be traded to the Sparks a few months later.

The move wasn’t just a basketball decision—it carried deeper implications. Hamby later expressed her frustration, writing, “Imagine expressing your fears as a woman and being pregnant in this profession/world. Then to be reassured that you were supported… and your back was ‘had’… only to then be used against you. Lmao.”

It’s easy to see why Hamby might relate to Dončić’s situation. While the reasons for their departures differ, both left teams that had once seen them as foundational pieces. In the Slovenian star’s case, reports suggested that Dallas traded him due to concerns about his fitness and conditioning.

Luka Doncic: From cornerstones to castaways, seeking redemption

Though he dismissed those concerns, they became a narrative he couldn’t ignore. “Of course. To win the championship. You don’t come here for anything else. I have everything left to prove and the goal is to win the championship,” he said in his first interview as a Laker.

Dončić has already found a supporter in LeBron James, who called him immediately after the trade.

“He called me right away,” Luka said. “He was in New York. We didn’t talk much. He said, ‘I understand what you’re feeling,’ but that was really nice of him just to call me right away and welcome me to LA.” The reassurance from one of basketball’s greatest players could be crucial as the 25-year-old tries to reshape his narrative in Los Angeles.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka called the trade a “seismic event in NBA history,” emphasizing the 5x All-Star’s status as a global superstar now playing for “the most popular and influential basketball brand on the globe.” But while Luka Dončić’s future with the Lakers remains full of potential, the move comes with an undercurrent of doubt—just like Hamby’s transition to the Sparks did.

Dearica Hamby responded to adversity with a strong season in Los Angeles, which ended her season with a WNBA All-Star award in 2024. Dončić is setting out on a similar journey, using the doubts about his conditioning as motivation. Whether it’s the WNBA or the NBA, basketball has a way of writing redemption stories. Now, it’s Luka’s turn to step onto the court and show that the trade was just the beginning.