When the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers, it sent a universal message across the league. The Slovenian superstar is one of the league’s top-five players, and he still hasn’t entered his prime. Many believed he was on the shortlist of untouchable players in the NBA. However, the deal proved there’s no such thing as an untouchable player. Magic star Paolo Banchero reveals the key lesson he took away from the shocking blockbuster trade.
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In the fourth and recent installment of his special player diary with Andscape, Banchero shared his initial reaction to the Doncic trade. He remembers exactly where he was at the time. The Magic were on the team bus in San Francisco ahead of their matchup against the Warriors. Banchero received a text from his friend notifying him of the deal. After some time to himself thinking about his situation, he revealed what he learned from the surprising trade. He said,
“What I learned was you got to stay on top of your game. It just shows you that nobody’s untouchable, and you just got to always be prepared for anything. Obviously, I don’t know the details of that situation. But it’s just surprising to see a player like him traded in the middle of the night.”
Doncic is only 25 years old and has accomplished more than nearly every player in NBA history. He has earned five All-NBA First-Team selections in seven seasons. In only his second season, he finished fourth in MVP voting and has been a perennial MVP candidate since.
Banchero along with the general public was in shock that the Mavs traded Doncic so abruptly. It was a presumption across the league that a player that integral to a franchise and with that skill wouldn’t receive that level of treatment. However, Banchero and others with a similar mindset stood corrected, and he still remains in disbelief.
Banchero learned valuable lessons from the Doncic trade
The only benefit the Doncic trade had on opposing stars is that it served as a reality check. Banchero didn’t want to grow complacent. He hasn’t accomplished nearly the things Luka has, meaning he is as easily tradable as the five-time All-Star. As a result, he grew a more profound conviction to become the best version of himself, especially considering he didn’t make an All-Star team, Banchero said,
“I came to terms with [not being a 2025 NBA All-Star] when I was injured and that it was going to be tough to make the game.”
He has come to see the break as an opportunity to work on himself:
“Once the rosters came out, I don’t think I was really upset. Actually, I was a little happy that I get to use my All-Star break this year. I can clear my mind and sharpen my brain up when I’m on the break and come back from the break ready to go.”
The 6-foot-10 forward started the season amazingly. However, he hasn’t found the same groove that he had before his injury. The upcoming All-Star break along with the motivation not to suffer the same fate as Luka could lead to a dominant second half of the season for Banchero.
