Lakers swap Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic in trade you need to see to believe

From the moment the initial post was submitted on X, fans of both the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers were at a loss for words. In no scenario could it be true, especially when one considers that there weren't even the slightest of rumblings to suggest it could be possible.

The report has been verified, however, that the Lakers and Mavericks have swapped Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic in what may be the most superstar-studded trade in NBA history.

Charania proceeded to confirm that he wasn't hacked, providing the full details of this unfathomable trade.

The official ESPN account quickly confirmed the report, beginning a slew of confirmations from around the NBA.

NBA insider Chris Haynes added to the fray, thus legitimizing a deal that no one could've even imagined being possible until it was actually executed.

Against odds that no one even thought to calculate, Davis is no longer a Laker and Doncic is Los Angeles' new franchise player.

Lakers acquire Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis in ultimate blockbuster trade

Davis and Doncic are, without hyperbole, two of the best players of the 21st century. Davis helped the Lakers win a championship in 2019-20 and is currently a five-time All-NBA and five-time All-Defense honoree who will one day walk at a leisurely pace into the Hall of Fame.

Doncic, meanwhile, is a five-time All-NBA honoree and five-time All-Star with a scoring title and an NBA Finals appearance to round out his already legendary résumé.

With all of this in mind, it seemed highly unlikely that either team would consider the move they made. Doncic led Dallas to the NBA Finals less than a year ago, while Davis was seemingly actively informing Los Angeles' decision-making ahead of the trade deadline.

Despite their seemingly untouchable status, however, a Davis for Doncic swap has been executed without any semblance of a warning.

In addition to sending Davis to Dallas, the Lakers will also part ways with Max Christie and just one future first-round pick. Losing Christie stings due to his youth and promising two-way development, but the return is a player on the shortlist for the label of, "Best in the world."

Doncic is not only a five-time All-NBA honoree, but he's been named to the All-NBA First Team in each of those seasons.

Doncic will now come to Los Angeles as LeBron James' co-star and long-term replacement. He'll be tasked with helping the franchise build upon its already successful 2024-25 campaign and leading it into a once uncertain future due to James' age at 40.

Perhaps the craziest fact of all: It was actually the Mavericks that approached the Lakers for this landmark trade, per Charania.

In a matter of minutes, the Lakers went from painfully inactive to orchestrators of what may be the most star-studded trade in NBA history. It's officially trade season.