Shams: Luka Doncic's Loyalty Will 'Carry Over' to Lakers; Never Intended to Leave Mavs

Luka Dončić, who once said he planned to spend his career with the Dallas Mavericks, could now be similarly committed to the Los Angeles Lakers.

"He had no intention of ever leaving Dallas... he did not want to go anywhere," Charania said Tuesday in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show (1:18:30 mark.) "You think of a player coming from abroad. They're very committed. They're loyal. And that's how he viewed himself with the Mavericks: it's like one team, one city, forever.

"And I think that's gonna carry over to the Lakers. I think he's loving his time in L.A."

Dončić told reporters was "surprised" when he got a call on Saturday night informing him he had been traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers one season after a trip to the NBA Finals with the team.

"I didn't really believe it at first and it was a big shock," Dončić said on Feb. 4, per Fox Sports' Melissa Rohlin. "It was a hard moment for me. It was home."

In a letter posted to social media shortly after the trade, Dončić told Mavericks' fans: "I thought I'd spend my career here and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship."

Since then Dončić has seemingly been working to fit into both the Lakers and Los Angeles. His charitable foundation announced a $500,000 donation to local wildfire recovery efforts shortly after the trade. He has meanwhile been slowly ramping up his minutes and production for the Lakers.

Dončić is eligible for a four-year, $229 million extension with the Lakers this offseason. He could alternatively opt out of his current deal and become a free agent following the 2025-26 season.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst previously reported that Dončić had no particular connection with the Lakers, and whether he signs in Los Angeles could hinge on the Lakers' ability to build a contender around him.

After riding a six-game win streak to the No. 2 spot in the West, the Lakers could hope the addition of Dončić leads to a deep run this spring.