Los Angeles Lakers
Weekend Wrap-Up: Doncic’s & Fox’s Trades Rock NBA, Imanov Humbles Adesanya & More
Luka to LA! De’Aaron to San Antonio! Butler to… Well, Still Nowhere, WWE Royal Rumble, and More!
Mavs Decide to Break the Internet Trading Doncic to the Lakers
It seems as if the Dallas Mavericks were in no mood for anybody to get the week going smoothly, as NBA news reporter Shams Charania announced that the Mavs decided to rock the foundations of the Western Conference and the league in general, trading 5-time All-Star Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Three-team deal that includes Utah.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
Yes, as I just said, and as you probably found out after news of the blockbuster trade broke the internet, Doncic, one of the NBA’s favorite candidates to be the face of the league moving forward, will now join LeBron James in LA to try to bring another title to the Lakers.
The Mavs’ tribute video for Luka Doncic 💔
(via @dallasmavs)pic.twitter.com/IYM1pIzkMQ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 3, 2025
Strangely enough, considering how fast NBA rumors get around, the trade was done without anybody knowing, except, of course, Mavs and Lakers execs. But get this, when I mean anybody, I mean Luka didn’t know, AD didn’t know, LeBron didn’t know, I didn’t know, you didn’t know. Nobody knew!
“This deal materialized in the shadows … LeBron James had no idea this was coming. Anthony Davis had no idea this was coming. I’m told Luka Doncic is still stunned about this trade.”@ShamsCharania on the Anthony Davis-Luka Doncic trade between the Lakers and Mavericks pic.twitter.com/Hp4bL3UX2M
— ESPN (@espn) February 2, 2025
If I’m being honest, after the shock went away, all I was left with was a bitter taste for the Mavs. For now, here’s to hoping Luka gets his chip in LA. No hate for AD though; I hope he gets his as well in Dallas. But overall, bad move on the Mavs.
As Expected, De’Aaron Fox Is Headed to the Spurs
Not to be outdone by LA’s move on Doncic, the San Antonio Spurs also decided to throw their hat into the NBA trade shocker ring by landing former Sacramento Kings star guard De’Aaron Fox.
BREAKING: Sacramento is finalizing a trade to send De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in a multi-team trade that moves Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine to the Kings, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/Ftmo8N4hMj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2025
After shopping the player around for a couple of days, with all NBA betting odds pushing towards Fox moving to San Antonio to join Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul, what ended up being a three-team trade also saw one of the most coveted targets, Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine leave Chi-town to join the Kings.
The Spurs really did it, they landed De’Aaron Fox WITHOUT having to give up Stephon Castle.
Scary hours in San Antonio. 👀 pic.twitter.com/RrBCee5Z7p
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 3, 2025
With the Western Conference continuing to shape up for what promises to be a killer second half of the season, call me a fan of Fox joining the Spurs and Lavine joining Sabonis in the Kings.
A first look at the Kings potential starting five with Zach LaVine 👑 pic.twitter.com/zANbEiEdvB
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 3, 2025
The west is about to pop off!
Where in the World Is Jimmy Butler?
From blockbuster trades to a standstill that’s become more and more stale as time progresses, Jimmy Butler is still in Miami, probably at home, and with no real signs of going anywhere, even with a trade being imminent.
After refusing to sign a potential contract extension with the Golden State Warriors, trade talks between Miami and GS subsequently broke off.
Jimmy Butler is unwilling to sign an extension with the Warriors, and trade talks to send him to Golden State have ended for now, sources told @WindhorstESPN. pic.twitter.com/DLhgYnIRBx
— ESPN (@espn) February 3, 2025
From the looks of it, it seems as if Jimmy is set on joining one team and one team only, the Phoenix Suns. However, with Phoenix not making any actual moves, will Butler’s chances to play at least a couple of NBA games with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker fall short before the February 6 trade deadline?
And Then One Day, Coach Cal Returned to Kentucky
Moving over to college hoops, former Kentucky Wildcats legendary coach John Calipari made his awaited return to Rupp Arena this past weekend, this time leading the Arkansas Razorbacks, who would go on to shock the Wildcats, beating them 89-79.
COACH CALIPARI SILENCES THE HATERS 😮
Arkansas goes into Rupp Arena and UPSETS No. 12 Kentucky‼️ pic.twitter.com/sl7iZ9dOXV
— ESPN (@espn) February 2, 2025
Welcomed back with boos from the crowd and a few disses, coach Cal showed that in his Hall of Fame career, a little hate never stopped him from bringing the heat, pushing the Razorbacks to one of the most surprising and, in a way, satisfying NCAAB betting odds upset of the season.
Is It Safe to Say Adesanya Is on His Way Out?
It seems the whole sporting universe got together this weekend and decided to dish out shocker after shocker, with the UFC not falling behind.
In their UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imanov event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, fighter Nassourdine Imavov shocked fight fans all around the world, earning the biggest win of his career after knocking out former middleweight champion and one of the most revered fighters, Israel Adesanya with 30 seconds left in the second round of their main event fight.
OVER IN AN INSTANT 😳@Imavov1 wins by Round 2 TKO at #UFCSaudiArabia!
[ @RiyadhSeason | #RiyadhSeason ] pic.twitter.com/pHEhFFNqSl— UFC (@ufc) February 1, 2025
Of course, it didn’t take long for speculations and UFC rumors to pop up that this was the start of Adesanya’s career decline. But damn people, how about we give the man a little room to breathe, pick himself up, and let him decide what’s next before retiring him?
We’re talking about one of the best ever to do it here; show some respect.
No matter what Israel Adesanya decides to do next, it doesn’t matter.
His legacy is secured. All time great. All time legend.
One of the greatest Champions in UFC history. pic.twitter.com/hmeT3VOiy2
— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) February 1, 2025
Be it what may, Adesanya will always be one of everybody’s favorite fighters.
One More Lap Around the Block
So, who else was lowkey mad that John Cena didn’t win the WWE’s Royal Rumble? Don’t lie; it hit us all equally. Even with Jey Uso “yeeting” and winning the event, thus earning his spot for a title bout at Wrestlemania, everybody thought it would be Cena pointing at the Wrestlemania sign at the end of the night.
Still, good on Jey. Yeet!
YEET!!!#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/VIU3nG4jcz
— WWE (@WWE) February 2, 2025
In the women’s Royal Rumble fight, Charlotte Flair, aka the GOAT of WWE’s women’s wrestling division, made her long-awaited return with the company and went on to win the women’s over-the-rope elimination match, allowing her to challenge the world title at Wrestlemania in Las Vegas.
All hail to the Queen!
It wasn’t a spoiler, it was a warning. 😉💎🐦🔥 pic.twitter.com/9xLX89URSX
— Charlotte Flair (@MsCharlotteWWE) February 2, 2025
As we enter Super Bowl LIX week, some of the NFL’s best had a little fun this weekend as the Pro Bowl games went down, with the NFC winning their third consecutive Pro Bowl title. With some of the top NFL stats toppers showing off their skills in Orlando, it was the perfect setup for what’s to come this week.
THE NFC WINS THE PRO BOWL FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR 👏 pic.twitter.com/GsxQRqws2C
— ESPN (@espn) February 2, 2025
Now, the focus shifts to what matters most: Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans, set to be an electrifying game. BetUS Sportsbook’s Super Bowl LIX odds still have the Chiefs as favorites at -115 to secure the three-peat.
The matchup is set 🙌 @Chiefs vs @Eagles
See you in New Orleans for #SuperBowlLIX pic.twitter.com/YnxJFbdIec
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 27, 2025
So, who do you got? Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs or Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles?
