The Luka Dončić to the Lakers trade has ignited a media frenzy, with viral content spreading across platforms. One TikTok video, viewed over 10 million times, falsely depicts Dončić badmouthing the Mavericks' GM in an interview about the trade. While many have accepted it as real, Deep Media’s detection tools found strong evidence of manipulation, including AI-generated distortions in facial expressions, speech synchronization, and audio inconsistencies.

With deepfake technology advancing rapidly, fabricated content like this can mislead fans, fuel misinformation, and distort public perception. Given the video’s timeliness and virality, we assess a high likelihood of further spread, reinforcing the urgent need for stronger detection tools to combat AI-driven media manipulation.