It was exactly one year ago, on Jan. 23, 2023, when the Los Angeles Lakers began to reformat their team on the fly.
With the NBA trade deadline looming in less than three weeks and his team mired in a sub-.500 record past the halfway mark of the schedule, Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka traded Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks to the Washington Wizards to acquire Rui Hachimura.
The birth of a meme
Doncic put together one of the most impressive performances in NBA playoff history in Game 7.
He matched the Suns’ point total in the first half (27), becoming the first player in the past 25 postseasons to equal or exceed the opposing team’s point total in a half, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Doncic finished with 35 points and 10 rebounds on 12-of-19 shooting in just 30 minutes.
Booker called the 123-90 loss a “good ol’ fashion a– whooping” and added that nothing got chippy between him and Doncic. The blowout win eliminated the Suns and spawned a popular meme.
Don’t wait till it’s three seconds left to talk’
The Mavs had a chance to win a tight game in March 2023 when Doncic drove to the basket on Josh Okogie, who fell to the hardwood. No foul was called and Doncic missed the floater. Kevin Durant collected the rebound and Phoenix went on to win.
Booker pointed at Okogie and yelled at Doncic. Seconds later, the Mavs star rushed Booker and the two came head-to-head, though it was quickly broken up
