"What is this? Some Brazilian fake news?" - Goran Dragic revealed his initial reaction to the Luka Doncic trade
"What is this? Some Brazilian fake news?" - Goran Dragic revealed his initial reaction to the Luka Doncic trade originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Goran Dragic saw it coming before the rest of the world did. Not the shocking trade, but the superstar status.
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Long before Luka Doncic became a household name in the NBA, Dragic already had a front-row seat to the making of a generational talent. As a teenager, Goran shared a locker room with Luka's father, Sasa Doncic — also a Slovenian pro who brought his son to the gym before and after practices.
It was there when "The Dragon" saw the first sparks of "Luka Magic."
So when "El Matador" started lighting it up for the Dallas Mavericks, it didn't really catch the one-time All-Star off guard. What did catch him off guard came much later — on February 1st this year, when news broke that the Mavericks had pulled the trigger on the most shocking trade in the league's history, sending their franchise cornerstone to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Even for someone who's seen it all during his 15-year career in the Association, this one felt surreal. When the bomb dropped, Dragic was thousands of miles away, enjoying some downtime in Brazil.
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"Yeah I was shocked like everybody else. Actually, I was in Brazil at that time, and I was like, 'What is this? Some Brazilian fake news?' Then I started getting text messages and I realized that it's true," the 2014 Most Improved Player said in an exclusive interview with Basketball Network. "I was shocked, but, you know, that's part of the business. You have to move on. He has to move on."
The future is bright in the City of Angels
But as surprising as the trade was, Dragic isn't worried about how his fellow countryman will handle it. In fact, he believes the move could unlock an even scarier version of the five-time All-Star.
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Now surrounded by championship expectations and bright lights, "Luka Magic" is also learning from a guy who's made a career out of defying Father Time — LeBron James. "The King" is in the twilight of his career, but what he brings to the table off the court might be even more valuable than what he still does on it. For Luka, that mentorship could be the bridge between stardom and sustained greatness.
It's one thing to put up monster numbers. It's another thing to do it while wearing the most scrutinized jersey in basketball. But "The Dragon" believes "The Don" has the mentality and game to carry that torch and maybe even add a few new chapters to the Lakers' rich legacy.
"I think he is in a good team. The Lakers are a historical franchise; they are gonna build the team around him and have a lot of success. The biggest market in the league. I'm not afraid for him, because we all know what kind of baller he is. That's gonna fuel him even more, for sure," the Slovenian basketball legend added.
Related: Luc Longley on why he and Michael Jordan couldn't get along: "Mike was doing what he did to rookies, what he was doing to me"
The Luka-watch is on
While the trade turned heads and shook up the Western Conference, it didn't exactly translate into instant playoff success. The Lakers got bounced in the first round, losing in five games to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The chemistry was still a work in progress, the pieces didn't quite fit, and questions remain about what comes next.
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Still, if there's one thing that's never been in doubt, it's Luka's ability to adapt and dominate. And with the Lakers expected to retool and reload this summer, the 26-year-old Slovenian now has the keys to the NBA's biggest stage with a legend by his side to make the transition even more smoother.
Related: "Shaq, I'm from the Balkans, you cannot haze me so hard, I've seen everything" - Goran Dragic recalls how he survived Shaquille O'Neal's rookie treatment
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
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