The Los Angeles Lakers always get their man, and Luka Doncic joins a list of mega superstars to join the Lake Show via blockbuster trade.
The Los Angeles Lakers have a long history of making franchise-altering trades, and their latest move is no exception.
The team recently acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, sending Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick in return.
With Doncic’s superstar talent now in the Purple and Gold, the Lakers continue their tradition of landing game-changing players through blockbuster trades. Here are some of the biggest throughout their franchise history.
Lakers Get Luka Doncic (2025)
The Lakers shocked the basketball world by trading Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic, a five-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA First Team member at just 25 years old.
The move, which materialized seemingly out of nowhere, brings a young generational talent to Los Angeles, signaling a new era of championship aspirations for the Lakers as Luka gets paired with LeBron James.
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Lakers Get Wilt Chamberlain (1968)
In 1968, the Lakers pulled off one of their first major blockbuster trades, acquiring then reigning MVP Wilt Chamberlain from the Philadelphia 76ers.
Chamberlain led the Lakers to the NBA Finals four times in five seasons and was Finals MVP in 1972, the year Los Angeles set a still-standing NBA record of 33 consecutive wins en route to a championship.
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Lakers Get Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1975)
The Lakers continued their tradition of landing dominant big men by acquiring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from the Milwaukee Bucks in 1975.
Already a three-time MVP and an NBA champion, Kareem went on to win three more MVPs in Los Angeles while anchoring the Showtime Lakers to five championships in the 1980s.
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Lakers Get Kobe Bryant (1996)
In one of the most important draft-night trades in NBA history, the Lakers acquired the rights to Kobe Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Vlade Divac in 1996.
Bryant would go on to play all 20 seasons with the Lakers, winning five NBA titles and finishing his career as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 33,643 points.
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Lakers Get Pau Gasol (2008)
The Lakers made a midseason splash in 2008, acquiring Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade that set up three consecutive NBA Finals appearances.
Gasol formed a dominant duo with Kobe Bryant, leading the Lakers to back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.
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Lakers Get Anthony Davis (2019)
The LeBron James era gained a second superstar when the Lakers traded for Anthony Davis in 2019, sending Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and multiple draft picks to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The trade immediately paid off as Davis helped the Lakers win the 2020 NBA Championship in his first season, and AD would later become the key piece that brought Luka to the Lakers.
From Wilt to Kareem, Kobe to Luka, the Lakers have a rich history of acquiring superstars through bold trades.
With Doncic now in Los Angeles, the team hopes he will be the next great Laker to lead them to championship glory.
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[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]