Giannis Antetokounmpo has revealed he initially thought Luka Doncic's "insane" blockbuster trade to the Los Angeles Lakers was "fake news".

The Lakers confirmed the arrival of five-time NBA All-Star Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, signifying one of the biggest trades in the league's history. 

Doncic's trade also saw the Mavericks acquire the Lakers' leading point scorer for this season, Anthony Davis, as well as Max Christie, while Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris went the other way. 

Antetokounmpo spoke to reporters after recording 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Milwaukee Bucks in their 132-119 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies. 

While the Bucks star initially did not believe the news, it was a reminder that he cannot take anything for granted with the landscape in the NBA changing rapidly.

"I thought it was fake news. It's insane," Antetokounmpo said. "This is the world we’re living in. It’s a business, you have to understand nobody's safe, nobody's safe.

"At the end of the day, I've said this in the past, you get evaluated every single day. You don't take anything for granted.

"Being an All-Star, you don't take it for granted being able to go out there and put the jersey on and represent your team, you don't take that for granted."

Grateful for this amazing opportunity. Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play the game, I’ll do so with the same joy, passion and goal - to win championships. https://t.co/psfgI5o9Pn

— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) February 2, 2025

The trade also served to remind Antetokounmpo of how cruel the NBA can be as a business and how players must be cut more slack if they decide to prioritise themselves and their personal goals.

"I understand the business of basketball, that sometimes teams need to make the best moves that are good for their organisation and for their position and for their own pursuit of greatness and championships," he added. 

"But at the same time, it goes both ways. You cannot have a double standard here.

"When the teams make the best moves for them, they believe they can get another player to win now.

"When a player believes that he can go to a different team, and he believes he can have a chance to win a championship, we cannot crucify the person and say that he's not loyal, and he didn’t do the right thing, and he let everybody down.

"Because history has shown you, you have to do what is best for you and your family. You have to do what’s best/most important to win."