Make California Post a Preferred Source Luka Dončić didn’t just beat the Hawks on Monday night. He reminded their fans of the biggest mistake in franchise history.
During the Lakers’ 124-114 victory, Dončić engaged in a hilarious courtside exchange with Hawks fans, reminding them that Atlanta once held the keys to his basketball future before foolishly trading them away.
“You all wish you would have had me. You all wish, huh?” Dončić taunted, according to a video shared on Threads by @RKessler23.
“No we don’t, I’ve never wanted you,” another insisted.
At least one Atlanta fan was willing to admit the painful truth.
“I wish we did, I do,” the fan responded.
“You know you could have had me,” Dončić reminded them.
“He’s right,” the person recording acknowledged through laughter.
The exchange reopened a wound from the 2018 NBA Draft, when Atlanta selected Dončić third overall before trading him to the Mavericks in a deal involving Trae Young.
Dončić eventually led Dallas to the NBA Finals, while Young has since landed in Washington alongside former Lakers star Anthony Davis.
Monday’s performance only added insult to injury.
Dončić torched the Hawks for 32 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks, becoming the first Lakers player to record multiple games with at least 30 points, five assists, five steals and two blocks.
Not even Magic Johnson or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar accomplished that twice.
With Dončić leading the NBA in scoring at 40.1 points per game and Los Angeles sitting atop the standings at 10-2, his argument was difficult to dispute.
Now, eight years later and wearing a Lakers jersey, Dončić is still making the Hawks pay for their mistake.
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