NBA blockbuster trade: Luke Doncic traded for Anthony Davis in monster deal between LA Lakers and Dallas

The NBA has been shocked to its core by one of the biggest surprise trades in the league’s history, with Luka Doncic set to join LeBron James at the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis shipped to Dallas.

The trade stunned the basketball world and changed the shape of the competition just days before Friday’s (Australian time) trade deadline, with Doncic - considered one of the best players on the planet and in his prime at age 25 - heading to Hollywood.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Mavericks will give up Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. The Utah Jazz will also help facilitate the deal, receiving LA depth guard Jalen Hood-Schifino as well as two second-round selections.

The trade is set to be officially announced within the next 24 hours when it is ticked off by the league.

Doncic just last season led the Mavs to the NBA finals off the back of finishing third in Most Valuable Player voting.

Davis, who turns 32 next month, just days ago spoke about the Lakers needing one more piece at the trade deadline - unaware he would soon be shipped out of LA.

“I believe that defence wins championships,” Mavs general manager Nico Harrison told ESPN in the wake of the deal, which broke late on Saturday night (US time).

“I believe that getting an All-Defensive centre and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”

Doncic has played just 22 of Dallas’ 49 games this season, and has not featured since suffering a calf injury at Christmas.

Davis (abdominal strain) missed the Lakers’ game that finished just hours before the trade went through, which was an impressive road win over New York at Madison Square Garden.

The trade marks the first time in league history that two All-NBA players from the previous year have been involved in a trade for one another mid-season. Doncic made the All-NBA First Team last season, with Davis being named to the All-NBA Second Team.

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton spoke for most players and basketball fans when he asked on social media whether Charania had been hacked after breaking news of the deal on X.

Fellow NBA star Joel Embiid, of Philadelphia, wrote: “WOWWWWW NO F WAY”, while New York guard Jalen Brunson - who played alongside Doncic in Dallas - wrote “Holy s--t”.

The Lakers host Dallas in little more than three weeks on February 26 (Australian time) in what is set to mark Davis’ first game back in LA as a member of the Mavericks.