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New Book Reveals Lakers Group-Chat Shock as DavisDončić Trade Broke

A new book reconstructs the Lakers' private chat at the moment the DončićDavis trade reached the players.

Overview

  • Rookie Bronny James posted Shams Charania’s breaking report in the players’ chat, which some initially suspected might be a hack.
  • Anthony Davis entered the thread, questioned in a profane message whether he had been traded, wished teammates well, and exited the chat.
  • LeBron James replied with a terse “WTF,” according to reporting in Yaron Weitzman’s A Hollywood Ending.
  • The deal was officially confirmed on February 2, 2025, sending Luka Dončić to the Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Mavericks in a multi-team trade that included the Jazz.
  • Coverage drawn from the book also describes discreet negotiations between Rob Pelinka and Nico Harrison, fan blowback in Dallas, and post-trade results, including Davis appearing in nine games for Dallas and Dončić averaging 28.2 points in Los Angeles.