Luka Dončić, Mavericks fans seek closure in Lakers star's first game in Dallas since trade

New York Times

10-04-2025

DALLAS — As the Los Angeles Lakers took the court for pregame warmups Wednesday, the crowd at American Airlines Center loudly cheered for the visitors. Luka Dončić jogged toward the basket the Lakers were shooting on and casually floated a basketball off the shot clock buzzer, and it fell through the net.
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It was a little bit of Luka magic right away.
In his 6 1/2-year run with the Dallas Mavericks, their fans were regularly treated to Dončić hitting all sorts of difficult shots. Wednesday's game gave those fans the chance to show their appreciation for Dončić, who last season won a scoring title and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals, only for the franchise to trade him in February.
'I don't even know how I played this game,' Dončić said. 'So many emotions.'
Dončić's eyes welled with tears when the Mavericks played his pregame tribute video on the JumboTron. Fans who had watched Dončić play since he was a teenager felt the same way.
Luka Dončić was moved to tears while watching his tribute video from the Mavericks 🥹
🎥 @NBATVpic.twitter.com/btW749ULbk
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 9, 2025
'I was crying,' Katy Dotson, a 31-year-old from Mesquite, said. 'It was never supposed to happen this way. For the past two months, we've been trying to get closure, but seeing everything that was in that video just broke me. They even included his work with the kids at the end, and it just reminds you how sweet of a man he is — on top of an incredible basketball player. It's just so sad that he's not a Mav anymore.'
Once the game started, Dončić was cheered almost every time he touched the ball. He put on a show against his former team, scoring 31 points by halftime. He finished with 45 points, eight rebounds and six assists. He became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to score 45 points for and against one team in a single season, and the Lakers beat the Mavericks 112-97.
'It was beautiful,' Mavericks forward Naji Marshall said. 'Luka means so much to this city and vice versa. Luka moved from his country to America. I know it's a surreal feeling for him. It's all love.'
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The Mavericks traded up in the 2018 NBA Draft so they could select Dončić. In his first year, he was teammates with franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki and won Rookie of the Year.
Mavericks fans believed Dončić could spend the entirety of his career in Dallas, just as Nowitzki had. Dončić wanted to sign a contract extension with the team this summer, but Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison had other plans.
'Luka's emotions watching that just proved his words all along that he never planned to leave,' Dotson said. 'He was gonna be our guy forever.'
The Athletic polled 13 Mavericks fans during Wednesday's game. Asked why they decided to attend, 10 fans responded that they were there to support Dončić and/or protest the trade. That polling, while unscientific, seemed to represent the mood inside the building. Wednesday's game was a celebration of Dončić's talent.
'It was kind of like Dirk part two, but he was an even better player,' said Rob Fleming, a 42-year-old Mavericks fan from Plano. 'That's no slight to Dirk; even he's said that before. But yeah, man, I had just had my first daughter when the Mavs drafted Luka, and it honestly felt like they were both my children. And I didn't even have to change Luka's stinky diapers, so that was cool.'
While Dončić was showered in love, Harrison was jeered. Fans chanted 'Fi-re Ni-co' when Mavericks players stepped to the free-throw line. With 4:59 remaining, shooting guard Max Christie missed two free throws while fans were calling for Harrison's job. On the Lakers' next possession, LeBron James hit a driving layup, which put the Lakers ahead by 8.
With a win secured, the Lakers intentionally fouled with 1:34 remaining and got Dončić out. The crowd embraced him as he walked toward the Lakers bench.
After the game, Dončić lingered on the court and hugged several of his former teammates. He also hugged Anthony Davis, who was as shocked as Dončić was about the midseason trade.
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'Just told him good game,' Davis said. 'He played a hell of a game. It was a respect thing.'
In Dončić's postgame interview with ESPN, he expressed appreciation for the Mavericks fan base while also indicating he was ready to turn the page.
'I love the fans,' Dončić said. 'I love this city. But it's time to move on.'
Did Wednesday's game give Dončić closure?
'Hard question,' Dončić said. 'For sure, it's a little bit more. But talking about closure, sometimes it's hard. I spent a lot of time here. Great moments. But I have to focus on (the Lakers).'
Mavericks fans have to try to move on, too. There will still be plenty of painful moments. Dončić was theirs until, one night, he wasn't.
'They just snatched him away from us,' Dotson said. 'I hate it so much, and I really hope whoever is responsible for it loses their jobs.'