Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts had the same reaction as many Angelenos when he heard Anthony Davis had been traded for Luka Doncic. The Los Angeles Lakers stunned the sports world last Saturday when the team traded away their defensive star to the Dallas Mavericks for the next face of the franchise, Doncic.
While the monumental Lakers trade left many speechless, Betts could only muster three words.
“That’s wild, dog.”
A few weeks after winning the World Series, Betts made an appearance at Crypto.com Arena in late November, along with teammates Freddie Freeman, Chris Taylor, Jack Flaherty, and Brusdar Graterol. The Dodgers made sure to bring their championship hardware to the arena, which received a loud ovation from the L.A. crowd.
While the Dodgers have continued to sign talent this offseason, Doncic’s arrival to Los Angeles signaled the Lakers’ desire for seismic change.
“Luka Doncic joining forces with the Los Angeles Lakers is a seismic event in NBA history,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said. “[We] have a 25-year-old global superstar that is going to get on the stage of the most popular and influential basketball force in the globe.
“Sports are about transformative moments. We are inspired by these moments Lakers fans know, expect and love with a franchise that continually ushers in new eras of greatness.”
Soon after the Doncic deal, the Lakers traded for young center Mark Williams, an indication the franchise is preparing to make a deep playoff run.
L.A. is slowly returning to a championship city, with most Angelenos rooting for the Lakers and Dodgers throughout the year. Both organizations have certainly put themselves in a strong position to find success in 2025.
Could 2025 be another year where both the Lakers and Dodgers are crowned as champions? If both teams manage to win another title in the same year, it would cement the 2020s as an era of dominance in Los Angeles sports.
