Lakers Fans Push Back After Podcast Suggests Trading Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic in a Lakers jersey still feels surreal to some NBA fans-and apparently, to a few podcast hosts too.
On a recent episode of Mind the Game, Rich Paul and Max Kellerman stirred the pot with a segment that sparked immediate backlash across the NBA fandom. While Paul has already drawn some heat from Lakers fans for earlier comments about a hypothetical Austin Reaves trade, it was Kellerman who took things to a whole new level by floating the idea that the Lakers should consider trading Luka Doncic.
Yes, that Luka Doncic.
Kellerman’s argument centered on defense-or, in his view, the lack of it. He suggested that Doncic’s defensive limitations could ultimately prevent the Lakers from winning another championship. That take, unsurprisingly, didn’t sit well with fans.
And the reaction? Let’s just say Reddit lit up like a playoff game at Crypto.com Arena.
One fan joked the podcast should be renamed “r/nba Rage Bait,” while another called it a “psyop to destroy the Lakers.” Others didn’t hold back, labeling the take as “dumb slop,” “trolling,” and “desperate.” One particularly sharp comment compared Kellerman to a “prettier Nick Wright,” while another quipped that he was chasing his next viral “I want Iguodala” moment.
The consensus among fans was loud and clear: trading Luka isn’t just a bad idea-it’s an absurd one.
And they’re not wrong.
The Lakers pulled off one of the most stunning trades in recent memory when they acquired Doncic from the Mavericks last season. It came less than a year after Luka had led Dallas to an NBA Finals appearance, and the move shocked just about everyone around the league. For a franchise that has chased superstars for decades, landing a 27-year-old MVP-caliber talent in his prime was a rare and bold swing-and it connected.
Since arriving in Los Angeles, Doncic has done exactly what the Lakers hoped he would: produce at an elite level. Through 32 games this season, he’s leading the league in scoring with 33.6 points per game. He’s shooting 46% from the field, and while his 33% mark from beyond the arc isn’t lights out, he’s taking over 10 threes per game-showing confidence and volume that keeps defenses honest.
Sure, defense isn’t Luka’s strong suit. That’s no secret.
But when you’re putting up numbers like this, and when you’re the engine of one of the league’s most potent offenses, the trade-off is more than worth it. Teams build around players like Luka-they don’t ship them out because of a couple of blown rotations.
The Lakers clearly agree. They didn’t just trade for Doncic-they committed to him.
He’s now under contract through 2029, with a $161 million extension kicking in next season. That’s not the kind of move you make if you’re unsure about a guy’s long-term value.
That’s a franchise cornerstone deal.
So when a podcast segment suggests that the Lakers should entertain the idea of moving on from Luka, it’s no surprise that fans respond with disbelief. The idea runs counter to everything the Lakers have done over the past year-and everything Doncic continues to show on the court.
Bottom line: Luka Doncic is one of the most gifted offensive players in the game today. He’s putting up historic numbers, he’s locked in for the long haul, and he’s wearing purple and gold. The Lakers didn’t pull off a blockbuster to second-guess it now.
Trading Luka? That’s not a conversation. That’s just noise.