Devin Booker gets real about playing Dallas without nemesis Luka Doncic: “The vibes are low”

Suns star Devin Booker made an important admission regarding Luka Doncic and the Mavs after his trade to the Lakers.

Devin Booker gets real about playing Dallas without nemesis Luka Doncic: “The vibes are low”

Devin Booker and Luka Doncic

A month ago, the Dallas Mavericks were in a good place, but in just 30 days, everything changed dramatically. To everyone’s shock, the Mavs traded their star, Luka Doncic, in exchange for Anthony Davis. The move left many stunned, and even a month later, some are still processing it—among them, Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker.

When asked about Luka Doncic’s departure from the Mavericks after his blockbuster trade to the Lakers, Devin Booker acknowledged the impact Doncic left on the city. According to Booker, his presence is so significant that players can feel his absence the moment they arrive in Dallas—even at the airport. Strong words from a former rival.

You can feel it when we land. The vibes are low right now, but hopefully they can look back and once everybody gets healthy, on top of next season, still root on their team and root on their city.

Devin Booker said

Booker and Doncic once shared a heated rivalry, particularly during the 2022 NBA playoffs. The two stars clashed in a fierce second-round series, with the Suns and Mavericks trading dominant wins. Both players showcased incredible performances, adding fuel to their competitive battle.

Despite their fierce rivalry, it’s encouraging to see Booker acknowledge Doncic’s impact on the Mavericks. Not only that, but Booker believed the deal was originally intended for Luka Garza, demonstrating how he views the player as an NBA superstar.

Nobody, including Doncic himself, saw the change coming. As a result, one can see why other players perceive a shift in the energy in Dallas now that the absence of Doncic is felt.

Amidst their rivalry, Jaylen Brown gave Luka Doncic his flowers

The Boston Celtics defeated longtime rivals the Los Angeles Lakers 111-101 on Saturday, despite an excellent showing by Lakers star Luka Doncic, who scored 34 points and collected 8 rebounds. After the game, Celtics standout Jaylen Brown lauded Doncic, calling him one of the greats.

Luka is one of the greats. He’s one of those generational talents. Offensively, his talent is next to none. He’s one of my favorite players on that side of the ball.

Jaylen Brown said

Doncic is averaging 24.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.6 assists in 11 games for the Lakers this season, helping them advance to the second seed of Western Conference with a 40-22 record.

Notably, the Lakers will miss their star, LeBron James, due to a groin injury for a few games. This means that Doncic will have to step up in James’ absence if the Lakers are to secure a top seed in the West.