Kyrie Irving ‘shocked’ by Luka Doncic trade to Lakers
The aftermath of the Luka Doncic trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers left many around the situation stunned.
Among those is Dallas Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving, who voiced that the transition from the move has left him and his teammates in a “grieving process.”
“Just really shocked,” Irving said via ESPN. “You just don’t imagine you’re going to get ready to go to sleep and then you find out news like that.
“It’s still a grieving process right now. I miss my hermano.”
Irving has spent the last two-plus seasons with the Mavericks playing alongside Doncic, where the two helped guide the franchise to an NBA Finals berth last playoffs.
All of that has further underlined the unexpectedness of the trade involving one of the game’s best players, who is only 25 years old and not yet entering his physical prime.
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Irving is left trying to move forward, but it’s been difficult for him to move full steam ahead with his new teammates without fully digesting the massive change.
“This is a business, it’s way above my pay grade, and I’ve just got to adjust and be ready to welcome in my new teammates with open arms and kind of be ready to go back to Dallas, too, to speak in front of our fans,” Irving said. “I know they are feeling it, too. I’m feeling it too, guys. So, yeah, it’s just an adjustment period. I don’t want to downplay this either, or disrespect our new guys.
“They’re going to help us win, and help us build toward a championship, but just like everyone else at home, when you kind of see it from afar, it hurts.”
Irving will play a significant role in the Mavericks’ plans alongside his new teammate, Anthony Davis. The two will serve as the team’s anchor points.
