NBA Round-Up: Celtics Star Fined, Nikola Jokic Fights OKC Player, Luka Doncic Targeted in Smear Campaign & More
A report says Dallas officials tried to damage Luka Dončić’s image after deciding to trade him, while his play and leadership have improved in Los Angeles.
- According to reporter Sam Amick, the Dallas Mavericks conducted a "smear campaign behind the scenes" to justify trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that shocked the NBA world.
- Former Mavericks President Nico Harrison reportedly disliked Doncic's work ethic and viewed him as an insufficient franchise player, prompting the trade; Dallas later fired Harrison following fan backlash.
- Since joining the Los Angeles Lakers, Doncic has improved his conditioning and leadership, organizing a team trip to Slovenia and helping identify center Walker Kessler as a roster addition.
- Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg claimed he "lost all respect" for Doncic after their opening-night matchup, but ESPN's Anthony Slater disputed the account, saying Lendeborg "got embarrassed and lied."
- Despite ongoing criticism over his interactions with officials, Doncic maintains elite production for the Los Angeles Lakers, where management remains committed to the star's performance and leadership contributions.
8 Articles
8 Articles
Mavericks ran smear campaign to justify Luka Doncic trade with Lakers: report
The Mavericks shocked the league by trading franchise star Luka Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025. Dallas reportedly ran a smear campaign to justify the shocking blockbuster deal, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick. Reports about Doncic’s weight, work ethic and other slanders surfaced about the superstar upon his arrival to Los Angeles. Luka...
Mavericks Accused Of Trying To Ruin Luka Doncic's Lakers Rep
The NBA world still talks about the shock of the Dallas Mavericks trading away Luka Doncic in his prime. However, it turns out that Dallas did more than trade Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers when realizing they were done with him. Various reports were leaked to the media about Luka not committing to getting […]
NBA Round-Up: Celtics Star Fined, Nikola Jokic Fights OKC Player, Luka Doncic Targeted in Smear Campaign & More
The NBA’s opening week has already delivered controversy, heated exchanges, and major off-court headlines. Paul George was fined after his Celtics debut, Nikola Jokic drew attention for a physical altercation involving an Oklahoma City player. Off the court, a pointed claim about the Mavericks and Luka Doncic, Enes Kanter Freedom’s WNBA Finals standoff, and LeBron […]
Mavericks ran a smear campaign against Luka Doncic after Lakers trade
The Dallas Mavericks reportedly attempted to damage Luka Doncic’s reputation following their controversial decision to trade the Slovenian superstar to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Dallas conducted a smear campaign aimed at justifying the blockbuster trade, which shocked the NBA and ended Doncic’s tenure with the franchise. […]
Mavericks Accused of Smear Campaign to Justify Luka Doncic Trade
The Los Angeles Lakers opened the 2026-27 NBA season with a strong 127-105 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. Luka Doncic led the way with 28 points on 7 of 18 shooting from the field, along with eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in 30 minutes.…
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