The Los Angeles Lakers are back in the NBA Championship picture after acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the trade deadline. Although Doncic's time in L.A. hasn't been perfect, the Lakers are still stacking up wins, putting them in a good position to make some noise in the postseason.
One of the often discussed aspects of the blockbuster deal was that nobody saw it coming — including Doncic himself. The Slovenian superstar thought he was going to be a Maverick for life, and no one would blame him if he missed being in Dallas, where he spent parts of seven seasons.
Having said that, the 26-year-old NBA All-Star's latest remarks indicate that he might not miss the Lone Star State as much as some might think.
Lakers News: Luka Doncic Clearly Doesn't Miss Dallas
Doncic spoke with The Athletic's Jovan Buha following Thursday's 111-102 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers' recent acquisition made sure to mention L.A. fans' support despite his recent shooting struggles, making it obvious that his time in Dallas is no longer on his mind.
"It's amazing," Doncic said about joining the Lakers. "I think the atmosphere has been amazing, even when I'm playing bad. I don't think I've had a good game here yet. But every time I check in, they cheer for me. So this is an unbelievable feeling to be here."
You can't blame Doncic for not missing the Mavericks after how they've mistreated him. Dallas' management has done nothing but disrespect its former star following the trade, mainly when it comes to reports about his weight.
Since being swapped for Anthony Davis, Doncic has made five appearances with the Lakers as he's tried to cut his weight. Outside of a 32-point performance against the Denver Nuggets, the five-time All-Star has left much to be desired by averaging only 19.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists on .365/.224/.725 shooting splits.
Having said that, there isn't a reason to sound the alarms just yet. Doncic likely just needs some more reps with his new teammates to get back into top form after playing in just six games since Dec. 27 due to injury. Chances are he'll look more like his old self closer to the postseason than he does now, further showing the Mavericks what they're missing out on.
Speaking of which, Doncic will make his Dallas return when the Lakers travel to American Airlines Center on Wednesday, Apr. 9. The ex-Maverick had the last laugh when he was reunited with his former employer on Tuesday, ending in a 107-99 win for Los Angeles.