The trade was put together in secret, with only a precious few people knowing what was happening. Luka Doncic didn’t know. Anthony Davis didn’t know. Their coaches didn’t know. Their teammates didn’t know.
And then it happened — an absolute blockbuster. Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season, Davis won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and now they’re switching teams in a move that stunned most everyone in the league.
“I thought I’d spend my career here, and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship,” Doncic said in a written farewell message to Mavs fans. “The love and support you all have given me is more than I could have ever dreamed of.”
Doncic was traded by the reigning Western Conference champion Mavericks to the Lakers for Davis as part of a three-team deal. The trade was announced Sunday morning after the teams got the required league approval.
The trade talks, which took place over about a month, were kept extremely tight-lipped by Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison and Lakers GM Rob Pelinka.
Mavs coach Jason Kidd’s first reaction? “Shock,” Kidd said, though he later added that he believes it’s the right move for his team going forward.
Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris also headed to the Lakers, while Max Christie went to Dallas. The Utah Jazz also were involved, getting Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-rounder from both the Mavs and Lakers.
“Sports are about transformative moments,” Pelinka said. “We are inspired by these moments Lakers fans know, expect and love with a franchise that continually ushers in new eras of greatness. ... Luka is a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come. His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for the team.”
The trade news broke shortly after the Lakers beat the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Davis was not with the Lakers for the game; he has been in Los Angeles because of an abdominal injury that needed assessing.
Doncic has not played for Dallas since Christmas, when he exited a game with a strained left calf. The trade may come at a serious price for Doncic, who now can’t sign a five-year supermax contract extension this summer that could have been worth around $345 million.
It was never clear if the Mavs would have offered such a massive deal. Doncic also would have had an option to leave as a free agent after the 2025-26 season, and it’s certain that other teams with hopes of landing the Slovenian star would have planned for such scenarios.
“There’s other teams that were loading up,” Harrison said Sunday. “He was going to be able to make his own decision at some point of whether he wants to be here or not, whether we want to supermax him or not, or whether he wants to opt out. We had to take all that into consideration and I feel like we got out in front of what could have been a tumultuous summer.”
Doncic is still eligible for an extension this summer, with the max that the Lakers could offer him being five years at about $230 million — a $115 million difference than what the supermax could have been.
“Luka absolutely did not deserve this. ... He really respected Dallas,” Sasa Doncic, Luka’s father, said on Slovenian television Sunday.
The deal pairs Doncic with LeBron James as the new 1-2 punch in Los Angeles, while Davis would be forming a new star duo with Kyrie Irving in Dallas. And it reunites Doncic with his former teammate, Lakers coach JJ Redick.
Doncic was one of the Mavericks players on the floor when Redick came out of a game for the final time on May 11, 2021.
For the Mavericks, the decision largely came down to what Davis does on the defensive end of the floor.
“We think defense wins championships and we’re bringing in one of the best two-way players in the league,” Harrison said. He added that Davis’ ability to be elite at both ends makes him “a unique unicorn” in the NBA.
“We feel like we’re built to win now as well as in the future,” Harrison said.
There was one game still going on in the NBA late Saturday night as the trade began emerging, that being Phoenix-Portland. Suns guard Devin Booker said someone in the stands told him and his teammates of the trade.
“They said Luka. I said, ‘Luka Garza?’” Booker said, referencing a Minnesota center.
Booker wasn’t trying to be funny. He just thought what many probably thought — that there was no way the Mavs would move Doncic.
“It’s crazy, man. I really don’t know what to say about it,” Booker said. “Luka being a guy that everybody has claimed is untouchable and untradeable. The NBA shows you again. Can’t predict. It’s a business. They’re always having a conversation about you. So don’t think you’re safer than you are.”
Added fellow Suns star Kevin Durant: “Insane. It’s crazy. Crazy. Damn, would of never thought Luka Doncic would get traded. At his age, midseason, the NBA is a wild place, man. If he can get traded then anybody is up for grabs.”
Dallas played at Cleveland on Sunday, while the Lakers are off until visiting the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. It’s not clear when Doncic or Davis could play for their new clubs; there is no firm timetable for their returns from injury.
Among players with at least 400 games, Doncic’s 28.6-point average is third in NBA history behind only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain — both at 30.1.
He was third in the MVP voting last season after averaging 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game, easily one of the greatest seasons in league history. Doncic — who turns 26 later this month and refers to James as an “idol” — had a 73-point game against Atlanta on Jan. 26, 2024, tying the fourth-highest scoring total ever in an NBA game. Only Chamberlain (100), Kobe Bryant (81) and Chamberlain (78) scored more.
Davis, an All-Star pick this year for the 10th time in his career, turns 32 next month. He’s part of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, helped the Lakers win the NBA title in the bubble in 2020, and — like Doncic — is a five-time All-NBA selection.
Doncic is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists this season. Davis is averaging 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds.
Harrison understands the risk and the anger among some in the Mavs fan base; some people protested outside the team’s arena in Dallas on Sunday. He has traded away a young superstar, someone who easily could be one of the game’s best players for the next decade, for a player in his 30s with a challenging injury history.
“I understand the magnitude of it,” Harrison said. “The easiest thing for me to do is do nothing and everyone would praise me for doing nothing. But we really believe in it and time will tell if I’m right.”
Luka Doncic heads to the Lakers and Anthony Davis goes to the Mavs in blockbuster trade
https://arab.news/w27je
Luka Doncic heads to the Lakers and Anthony Davis goes to the Mavs in blockbuster trade
- The trade news broke shortly after the Lakers beat the Knicks at Madison Square Garden
- For the Mavericks, the decision largely came down to what Davis does on the defensive end of the floor
Lebanese youth footballer injured in Israeli strike determined to return to the pitch
- ‘No pain, no gain … I want to return to football once I complete my physiotherapy and retain my fitness,’ Celine Haidar told Arab News
- ‘I’ve made a big improvement. There’s nothing that could kill faithful people, and I will never give up because only losers do’
BEIRUT: Shining young Lebanese footballer Celine Haidar is refusing to let a critical head injury she sustained after an Israel airstrike keep her down, and is determined to recover and return to the pitch.
“No pain, no gain … I am very gratified with where I’ve reached in my rehabilitation. Actually I’m surprised … I want to return to football once I complete my physiotherapy and retain my fitness,” Haidar, a 20-year-old youth international, told Arab News on Saturday.
Speaking at Mgr Cortbawi Institute and Rehabilitation Hospital, where she has stayed since waking up from a two-month coma in January, Haidar said she does not recall what happened on the ill-fated day of Nov. 16.
Her father, Abbas Haidar, said his daughter was hit in the head by a piece of flying shrapnel while fleeing their home in Beirut’s southern suburb during Israeli airstrikes.
Haidar, who captains her club, Beirut Football Academy, said: “I don’t remember exactly what happened. All I’m confident of is that I am determined to return to football once I am done with my treatment here in the best rehab center in Lebanon.”
The footballer, who was 19 when she got injured, says her treatment has been a “long and hard journey,” but now “it’s getting better.
“I’ve made a big improvement. I thank Allah the almighty. There’s nothing that could kill faithful people, and I will never give up because only losers do,” Haidar said when asked if she would return to the sport.
Speaking about her teammates’ support, she added: “The team have been caring about my health, and constantly check on me. They all support me and have faith in me rejoining them.”
Haidar, dubbed by her coach Samer Barbary as “Lebanon’s Sergio Busquets,” is described as a skillful and gifted midfielder, inspired by international stars Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
“Coach Samer is the one who improved my skills and worked on getting me to where I am today,” said the Real Madrid fan, whose football icon is Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 20-year-old footballer also studies physical education at a private educational institute in Beirut.
“I am fascinated by the smartness of Kroos and Modric, and they both have made me love playing in midfield. Ronaldo is my forever idol … his football mentality is the best,” she said.
Meanwhile, Barbary told Arab News that the whole BFA team are “with her in her recovery and she is doing great, thank God.”
He admitted that the treatment is a long road, but that Haidar “is determined and fighting to get back on her feet.
“We are waiting for her and hopefully she can come back to us, but the focus is on her to come back to her full strength, and then we will think about football,” he added.
Haidar’s father told Arab News that his daughter has surprised the family with her strong determination in working on her recovery and treatment. “I cannot say anything more than we thank God,” said Abbas, who expressed his hopes to see Celine “livelier and healthier” than before.
Following her November injury, Haidar was admitted to Saint Georges Hospital, where she entered a coma. She could not speak and remained under extensive treatment for months, her father said.
According to video footage that Haidar shared on her recovery, she can now walk, though with a limp in her left leg. She can also climb stairs with some difficulty.
Haidar, a rising star in Lebanon’s football scene, represented her country as a member of the under-19 women’s side who won the 2022 West Asia Cup, hosted by Lebanon. She was also selected to play for the senior national team before her injury.
“Celine played a major role in us winning the 2024 league unbeaten,” Barbary said.
Before joining BFA in 2021, she played for Safa Club and with them won the Lebanese National League.
Saudi Arabia impress with the bat in Quadrangular series but lose out to brilliance of Virandeep Singh
- Openers Abdul Waheed and Faisal Khan, who have each struck a T20I century for Saudi Arabia, gave the team a flying start against Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia’s senior men’s cricket team have had a busy three days in the Malaysia Quadrangular Series in Kuala Lumpur. They comfortably beat Thailand and Singapore before being involved in a gripping contest against Malaysia, the highest ranked team in the tournament.
The Saudi batting did not quite fire in the first match against Thailand but the lower order kept going strongly so that they reached a total of 156. This was far too much for Thailand, who were bowled out for 90 as Hisham Shaikh took four for 15 and Zain Ul-Abidin three for 13, seven wickets falling for only 20 runs.
Openers Abdul Waheed and Faisal Khan, who have each struck a T20I century for Saudi Arabia, gave the team a flying start against Singapore. Each batter hit three sixes and shared an exhilarating opening partnership of 98 in just 8.3 overs. Waheed made 55 in 34 balls and Faisal 62 from 28 balls in a brutal display of boundary hitting.
The innings tailed off to 178 for eight in 20 overs but Singapore soon collapsed to 33 for eight. Usman Khalid claimed three for 13 and Saudi Arabia won by 96 runs. Malaysia had also won their opening two matches by convincing margins so Saturday’s contest between two unbeaten teams was eagerly anticipated. It did not disappoint in any way.
Saudi Arabia were again given a flying start by their two powerful openers as Abdul Waheed and Faisal Khan shared a stand of 84 in 7.3 overs. After the latter was dismissed for 48 from 25 balls, Waheed went on to reach 82 from 52 balls. A total of 182 for seven did not quite make the most of the electric start, though it set up a competitive chase.
Ghayour Ahmed’s first over in international cricket went for 21 runs, Malaysia rushing to 65 for one after the first six overs. The run-rate was checked in the middle overs, captain Waji Ul-Hassan claiming two wickets to keep Saudi Arabia just ahead. Batter number three, Virandeep Singh, is a quality batsman and he paced his innings to perfection.
Thirty runs were still needed from the last two overs. Aided by a no ball, which he hit for six over mid-wicket, Singh scored all the necessary runs and Malaysia gained victory by five wickets with a ball to spare.
Saudi Arabia had largely been beaten by one man as Virandeep Singh had earlier taken four for 26 to keep the Saudi total under 200. His final 30-run flourish with the bat took him to an unbeaten 93 from 57 balls, containing eight fours and four sixes.
Now, there will be a second round of matches, so Saudi Arabia will face Malaysia in one more league match. On current form, they look likely to meet again in the final, so everybody following this series should be in for a cricketing treat in the coming days.
Buriram United’s Neil Etheridge on Ivan Toney reunion and hopes of Al-Ahli upset
- AFC Champions League Elite clash in Jeddah will be the fifth time the Philippines international has faced the English forward
LONDON: When Buriram United play Al-Ahli in the quarter-final of the AFC Champions League Elite on Saturday, Neil Etheridge will face a familiar foe. In a strange twist of footballing fate, Etheridge is — for the fifth time in his career — set to line up against striker Ivan Toney.
But having previously met in matches in England’s League One and Championship, the ACL Elite quarter-final represents the pair’s most significant encounter to date.
Philippines international Etheridge has yet to concede to Toney — successfully shutting out the forward in games against Barnsley, Scunthorpe and Brentford between 2016 and 2021. It is a record he is hoping to maintain.
“You cross paths with many football players in your career but I definitely didn’t expect to see Ivan Toney again,” Etheridge, who moved to Thailand last summer, told Arab News from Buriram’s pre-match camp in Bangkok.
“He’s had a fantastic career and it’s amazing to see where he is now from our first meeting in League One. He’s a great talent and I’m going to really enjoy playing against him one more time. Those stats (four games, no goals conceded) are nice to know, but will be irrelevant when we get on to the pitch.
“More than anything, I’m just happy to see another player step out of his comfort zone and leave English football for something totally different.”
Etheridge did just that himself last year, swapping Birmingham City for Buriram, winners of the Thai League in each of the past three seasons and currently one game away from adding an unprecedented fourth successive title to their tally.
“It’s difficult to think too much about the future in football so I wouldn’t say a move to Asia was always something I planned to do,” Etheridge said. “But I first joined the Philippines national team when I was 18 and have had so many positive experiences playing in Asia since then.
“Then last year, the opportunity came up and it felt like the right club and the right time. I think the Thai League is the strongest in Southeast Asia and I felt a real sense of ambition when I spoke to Buriram.
“They wanted to push on beyond the group stage of the Champions League and had a clear desire to achieve more, which made it a good fit for me. It’s a completely different challenge in my career but I am really enjoying it so far.”
Etheridge’s next challenge with Buriram is to try to keep one of the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite’s most prolific frontlines at bay. Only Al-Hilal have scored more than Al-Ahli’s 26 goals in this season’s competition, with Riyad Mahrez currently second in the race for Asia’s Golden Boot having netted eight times.
Mahrez, a UEFA Champions League winner with Manchester City, scored twice against Etheridge in a 5-0 win for Pep Guardiola’s side against Cardiff in 2018. And the Buriram shot-stopper knows he will have his work cut out to keep Mahrez and co. at bay on Saturday.
“Playing against the best players in the world is something that you live for in football — you always want to test yourself against the best,” Etheridge said. “That’s why I came to Buriram — to have the opportunity to play against Asia’s best players.
“Now because of the money being spent in Saudi Arabia, there is also a chance to play against genuinely world-class players in the Champions League.”
Buriram have already punched above their weight in this season’s competition with several eye-catching results, including a 0-0 draw at home to Vissel Kobe, a 2-1 away win at Central Coast Mariners and home victories against South Korea’s 2020 AFC Champions League winners Ulsan Hyundai and 2021 runners-up Pohang Steelers.
In the last 16, Etheridge and his team-mates edged an attritional tie with Johor Darul Ta’zim, the Malaysian team with which Buriram has regularly battled for Southeast Asian supremacy in recent years. Etheridge kept a pair of clean sheets, with a 1-0 second leg win enough to book a quarter-final meeting with Al-Ahli.
“We drew 0-0 with Johor in the group stage too so all of the games were very tight,” Etheridge said. “It definitely felt like there was a lot on the line and the atmosphere has been fantastic every time — they have a very hostile crowd there in Malaysia. These are the sort of matches you dream of playing to be honest — with high stakes.”
Etheridge is one of several players in the Buriram squad with European football experience, along with the likes of Austria international Peter Zulj, former Red Star Belgrade midfielder Goran Causic and Real Madrid academy graduate Marcelo Djalo.
Coach Osmar Loss will be relying on their calming influence if Buriram are to spring a surprise against Al-Ahli.
“I’m fortunate enough to captain my national team and I’ve been a leader in dressing rooms before,” Etheridge said. “Some players will be excited, some players will be extremely nervous but it’s up to the senior guys to take on a leadership role and keep things calm on the pitch.”
Facing an Al-Ahli team full of star names and with the club determined to win its maiden AFC Champions League Elite title — having finished as runners-up in 1986 and 2012, Etheridge recogises that he and Buriram will be major underdogs in Jeddah.
“We know Al-Ahli is a very big challenge for us. The match is in Saudi Arabia, in their own stadium. They are a club with a huge budget and you can see the players that they have brought in — not just Al-Ahli but across the board in Saudi Arabia.
“It’s going to be a tough battle but it’ll be a great experience for everyone. I guess there’s no pressure for us — realistically we’re not expected to win because Al-Ahli haven’t lost in the Champions League so far.
“I won’t stand here and say ‘we’re going to win,’ but in a one-off game, of course anything can happen in football. We will be tactically prepared, mentally prepared — and all we can do is give it our best.”
Reem Al-Aboud and Hanna Riehle lead Rally Jameel in its third stage
- Saturday will see the 45 women-led teams from 37 countries heading to Qassim for the final stage
JEDDAH: Saudi’s Reem Al-Aboud and Germany’s Hanna Riehle of Jameel Motorsport have won the third stage of 2025 Rally Jameel to lead the overall standings following another exceptional performance in their Land Cruiser Prado.
The day’s route combined traditional Bedouin trails with newer adventure tourism paths, challenging teams to manage speed, endurance and navigation under pressure.
The third stage of Rally Jameel’s fourth event took place from AlUla to Hail, a region renowned for its deep roots in Saudi motorsport history.
The leading couple were closely followed by Saudi Mashael Al-Howaish and South African Taye Perry from Lexus Racing Team, competing in a Lexus RX 500H.
In third place, Jordanians Farah Zakaria and Farah Ateyyat of Markazia Toyota held strong in their Toyota Fortuner.
After passing Petra, Tabuk, AlUla and Hail, action resumes on Saturday, with the 45 women-led teams from 37 countries heading to Qassim for the final stage.
Sinner does not expect easy road on return from doping ban
- Sinner was assured of retaining the top ranking for his home tournament after his closest challenger crashed to an early defeat
- Sinner said there were plenty of positives from his enforced absence from the tour
April 26 : Jannik Sinner held onto his world number one ranking ahead of his return from a three-month doping ban, but the Italian does not expect his comeback to be as smooth when he takes to the court again at the Rome Masters next month.
Sinner has not played since winning the Australian Open at the start of the season and accepted a ban in February following a deal with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which had challenged a tribunal’s decision to clear him after two positive tests.
The 23-year-old was allowed to return to training on April 13 and his suspension will end on May 4, before his competitive return at the Italian Open, which gets underway three days later.
Sinner, who spent time building fitness mindful of the French Open starting on May 25, was assured of retaining the top ranking for his home tournament after his closest challenger Alexander Zverev crashed to an early defeat in Monte Carlo.
“We’re training very hard. Hopefully we’ll get some momentum going again ahead of the clay season. It certainly won’t be easy for me,” Sinner told broadcaster ORF Sudtirol.
“The first games will be really difficult. But hopefully I’ll be able to get back into the rhythm and then we’ll see how it goes.”
Sinner, who trained with Britain’s world number six Jack Draper at the Tennis Club de Beaulieu in France recently, said there were plenty of positives from his enforced absence from the tour.
“I think at the beginning of the three months, it was quite nice,” Sinner added.
“A bit of time away from all the grind, I spent time with family, with friends. I was doing new things and getting to know myself better, finding out where I stand.
“I think it helped me a lot.”
