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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) smiles after making a three-pointer during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)

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Slovenian star Luka Doncic said Sunday he thought he’d spend his entire NBA career in Dallas, thanking fans in Texas for making it feel like home a day after the Mavericks abruptly traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Seven years ago, I came here as a teenager to pursue my dream of playing basketball at the highest level,” Doncic wrote in a message to fans posted on X. “I thought I’d spend my career here and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship.

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“The love and support you all have given me is more than I could have ever dreamed of. For a young kid from Slovenia coming to the US for the first time, you made North Texas feel like home.”

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#MFFL pic.twitter.com/qVMcV2uh5m

— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) February 2, 2025

Doncic, a EuroLeague MVP as a teenager, has established himself as a star since arriving in Dallas in 2018.

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The 25-year-old, who led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season and was a finalist for Most Valuable Player honors, was expected to be the face of the Mavs for years to come.

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Instead it was Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka who was looking forward to having “a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar” to lead the club now enjoying the final stages of superstar LeBron James’s career.

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There was emotion as well from James, who has forged a strong bond with Davis in six seasons together that included a title together in 2020.

READ: NBA: Lakers land Luka Doncic, trade Anthony Davis to Mavericks

“Love you, my dog. Go crazy over there,” James posted on Instagram over a photo of him and Davis embracing on court, a weeping emoji completing the post.

“This MOA (memorandum of agreement) is a crucial step in realizing the goal of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to deliver the first kilowatt-hours from offshore wind projects by 2028,” said Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

After posting his heartfelt message to Dallas, Doncic looked toward the future with a post showing him in a Lakers uniform.

“Grateful for this amazing opportunity,” he wrote. Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play the game I’ll do so with the same joy, passion and goal — to win championships.”

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