It’s been over half a year since the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off one of the most shocking trades in recent memory, sending Anthony Davis and other assets to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic.
But, new details have surfaced about how LeBron James reacted to the blockbuster move in real time.
James had just three letters to say in the Lakers’ group chat after hearing the news: “WTF”.
The story comes from NBA journalist Yaron Weitzman’s new book, A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers, which reveals how the chaos unfolded that February night.
“LeBron James had a three-letter response in a group chat when he found out that Anthony Davis had been traded as part of a deal that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers earlier this year,” Arnold wrote.
“‘WTF,’ the NBA superstar wrote on the February night one of the biggest trades in NBA history took place, according to Weitzman.
The book also details how Bronny James was the one who broke the news to the team by posting Shams Charania’s tweet in the players’ chat.
“Bronny, like the rest of the sports world that night, was unsure if the post had been a hack,” the book states. “That’s when Davis entered the chat… ‘Did these [N-word] just trade me?’ Davis wrote in the group chat before wishing his now-former teammates luck and leaving the group. That prompted James’ three-letter message.”
LeBron and Davis had spent five seasons together in Los Angeles, winning a championship in 2020 and reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2023.
Their partnership defined an era of Lakers basketball, and it’s no surprise James was blindsided by the move.
With LeBron out for the first few weeks of the season and Luka at the helm, it’s a new era for the purple and gold.
READ MORE: Insane List of 30+ Players to Miss Beginning of NBA Season
