Incredible video shows Stephen Curry and Warriors' stunned reaction to Lakers trade for Luka Dončić

The Warriors were at a charity poker night when the Dončić news alerts started to hit their phones, and you can see their reactions in real time

The biggest story of the 2024-25 NBA season was, without question, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks producing a shocking blockbuster trade to send Luka Dončić to L.A. and Anthony Davis to Dallas. 

It was the most shocking trade in league history, and everyone -- from fans to media to players to executives -- all had the same reaction when the news first broke, assuming it was fake and then losing their minds when they realized it was real. The Phoenix Suns were playing a game when the news came out, and they were all crowded around KD's phone, talking about it on their bench. The Golden State Warriors, as it turns out, were at a charity poker night, and it was Stephen Curry who broke the news to his teammates and just started screaming in a new video posted by Alan Keating to his YouTube channel. 

warriors' full reaction to luka getting traded to the lakers. steph was screaming 💀 pic.twitter.com/VXFtRMJdAL

— nana (@namxsj) May 16, 2025

My favorite part of the video is the camera cutting across the room to Kyle Anderson, whose facial reaction was priceless.

YouTube/Alan Keating

Curry screaming incoherently was also the reaction of a lot of fans, and an underrated part of the video is when Warriors assistant GM Kirk Lacob also assumed it was fake and then tried to figure out how the hell this happened. Players being surprised by a trade is one thing, but what made the Dončić trade so unique was that seemingly no one around the league, even in front offices, was aware that talks were being had. This is further evidence of how in the dark executives on teams outside L.A. and Dallas were about the deal. 

While the immediate result this season was the Lakers flaming out in the first round and the Mavs losing in the Play-In, the trade created some long-term ripple effects that will be felt throughout the league for a long time. The Lakers found their succession plan for LeBron James and the Mavs fell into the Draft Lottery and then somehow won the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes. 

The Warriors, who made their own huge trade later to acquire Jimmy Butler, knew immediately what this meant and how massive it was, not just for the West this season but for the long-term power dynamics in the NBA. On top of that, it sent a message that just about anyone could be traded, given Dončić's position as one of the top young stars and a seemingly foundational player in Dallas.