The trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers and brought Anthony Davis and Max Christie to the Dallas Mavericks wasn’t just a blockbuster-it was a seismic shift that redefined both franchises. For the Mavericks, it marked the end of an era and the start of something entirely new, with Davis anchoring the middle and Christie finding his place on the wing.
And while trades like this are often dissected through stats and strategy, this one carried a very real emotional weight. Just ask Davis.
“We handle this in our own way,” Davis said, reflecting on the early days after the deal. “He golfs to kind of relieve stress, I don’t.
A little bit. Actually pretty good.”
It was a rare, candid moment from a player who’s been through his share of league-shaking moves. But this one hit differently.
For both Davis and Christie, the transition to Dallas came with more than just a new jersey-it came with the kind of pressure that doesn’t show up in a box score.
Early on, the Mavericks were quiet. The locker room felt the shock.
Davis admitted that conversations about the trade were scarce. “We haven’t really talked about it,” he said.
“It was nothing that I could really say to help him understand about the business, especially when it was like a shocker.” That kind of honesty doesn’t come often in the NBA, but it speaks to just how jarring the move was-especially for the younger Christie, who was suddenly dropped into a high-expectation environment with a fanbase still adjusting to life after Luka.
But time has a way of settling things. Slowly, the Mavericks began to find their footing. And so did Christie.
“He’s found his guys, he found his own ways where he can cope with the trade,” Davis said. That growth didn’t just happen-it was earned.
Anthony Davis on going through the highs and lows over the last 10 months since being traded with Max Christie:
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) December 13, 2025
“We handle this in our own way. He golfs to kind of relieve stress, I don’t. A little bit. Actually pretty good…We haven’t really talked about it...But he’s found his… pic.twitter.com/z5EFyhndjy
Inside the locker room, Christie started to come out of his shell. Davis noticed it before anyone asked.
“Now, he’s getting out of that shell, he’s talking more,” he said. And it wasn’t just off the court.
The confidence translated to his game. The hesitation that marked his early days in Dallas gave way to rhythm and flow.
The results? Undeniable.
“I think he’s came out better,” Davis said. Then came the kind of praise that turns heads: “Now he’s one of the top 3-point shooters in the league.”
That’s not just a silver lining-it’s a foundational shift. In a post-Dončić world, the Mavericks need players who can step up, not just fill in. Christie’s emergence gives Dallas a new weapon, and Davis’ presence gives them a leader who understands the grind of adjusting under the spotlight.
The Mavericks didn’t just make a trade-they embraced the full weight of what it meant. The emotions, the expectations, the uncertainty.
And through it all, they’ve started to build something that looks sustainable. Something that’s growing.
Luka may be gone, but belief still lives in Dallas. Davis sounds like a man who’s found his footing.
Christie looks like a player who’s discovered his game. And if this is what the Mavericks look like before they’ve fully clicked, it’s fair to wonder just how dangerous they’ll be when everything comes together.