Luka Dončić admits he may never find peace with the Dallas Mavericks’ decision to trade him, even as he begins a new chapter with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The trade last February sent shockwaves across the NBA, with Dallas dealing its franchise cornerstone to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. Dončić was finalizing a home purchase and made it clear he intended to remain with the team long-term. The move left him in tears during his video tribute at the American Airlines Center.

“I think it will always be strange. I don’t know if someday I will have closure or not. For sure, it will always be weird,” Dončić said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the magnitude of the moment, describing the blockbuster trade as a pivotal jolt to the 26-year-old Slovenian star.

“Putting aside the merits of the trade, you could argue that it was a bit of a kick in the ass to Luka,” Silver said. “He didn’t try to hide his disappointment, and I think he was in a bit of a funk for a while, because it was probably the first true professional setback of his career. And I was hoping personally for him that he would ultimately see this as an opportunity to reset.”

Dončić has treated the setback as fuel. He overhauled his training this offseason, shedding about 35 pounds and unveiling a slimmer frame at EuroBasket, where he was nominated for Defensive Player of the Tournament. By August, he signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers.

“For the first time, I stopped playing basketball for a month,” Dončić said of his offseason regimen. “Pure training and fitness. And padel tennis.”

The transformation has not gone unnoticed. Teammate LeBron James, now entering his 23rd NBA season, offered high praise for the franchise’s new centerpiece.

“I just love the way he approaches the game,” James said. “I love the way he plays the game. More importantly, man, he’s just a great f—ing guy. Big-time savant of the game. Guys who can think the game as well puts you at another level.”

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka echoed the sentiment, comparing Dončić’s skill set to sleight of hand.

“I liken his skills to that of an illusionist,” Pelinka said. “There are always many ‘Did that just happen?’ moments.”

For Mavericks fans, Dončić’s exit was particularly bitter. He was long viewed as the natural successor to Dirk Nowitzki, having shared a season with the Hall of Famer before his retirement. Since the trade, Dallas has downplayed his legacy, removing tributes inside the arena and distancing the franchise from his image.

But Dončić is determined to redirect the narrative. He has embraced a “fresh start” in Los Angeles, while quietly conceding the pain of the past lingers.

“I didn’t know how to react, how to act, what to say,” Dončić said of the trade. “It was a lot of shock. I felt Dallas was my home. I had many friends there. The fans always supported me.”

Closure may not come anytime soon. But with an MVP-caliber season on the horizon and the Lakers pushing to extend their championship pedigree, Dončić is intent on letting his play define the next stage of his career.