Luka Doncic made his first appearance back in Dallas since his blockbuster trade to the Los Angeles Lakers – and it was a night filled with emotion, reflection, and an unforgettable performance.
The familiar atmosphere of the American Airlines Center stirred deep feelings for Doncic, who spent over six seasons with the Mavericks before the February trade that sent him to LA.
Ahead of tip-off, the Mavericks paid tribute to their former star with an extended highlight reel during player introductions, showcasing his best moments in a Dallas jersey.
Despite being visibly emotional while watching, Doncic put on a dominant display. He dropped 45 points – matching his season high – and led the Lakers to a 112-97 win that officially secured their place in the playoffs.
As he exited the court late in the fourth quarter, Doncic was greeted by chants of “Luka! Luka!” and a wave of affection from both his new team-mates and Dallas fans.
“After that video, I was, like, ‘There’s no way I’m playing this game,'” Doncic admitted. “It was so many emotions.
"I don't know how I did it. Because when I was watching that video, I was like, 'There's no way I'm playing this game.'"
Luka Doncic after dropping 45 PTS in his emotional return to Dallas with the Lakers ❤️ pic.twitter.com/dJb1GFCT0n
— ESPN (@espn) April 10, 2025
“Everybody had my back, from coaches to players, and we’re trying to build something special here. That was really, really, really nice to see.”
During the game, loud chants of “Fire Nico!” echoed through the arena – directed at Mavericks president and General Manager Nico Harrison. Harrison watched the game from a discreet spot near midcourt, mostly away from public view.
The protests continued after Doncic checked out of the game with just under two minutes remaining.
Doncic’s mood seemed to reflect the fans’. “It was a little bit of both, happy and angry,” he said. But it’s nice to see some familiar faces here. I really appreciate the fans, the way they reacted to me.”
Inside, the Mavericks placed gray t-shirts on every seat bearing the words “Hvala za vse,” Slovenian for “Thank you for everything.”
Anthony Davis- the LA star who went the other way in the trade – had a relatively quiet night with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists.
LUKA DONCIC TONIGHT:
45 POINTS
8 REBOUNDS
6 ASSISTS
4 STEALS
7 3PM
57% FG(Via @realapp_ ) pic.twitter.com/FYXlKkf2oB
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 10, 2025
After the final whistle, Doncic embraced several people on the court – including his former teammates, NFL star Patrick Mahomes, his parents, and Davis himself.
“Both of us were caught off [guard], surprised by [the trade],” Davis said. “But that was two months ago. It happened. There’s nothing we can do about it now. Just told him, ‘Good game.’ He played a hell of a game. Just a respect thing.”
Doncic scored 14 points in the first quarter alone and had 31 by half-time. He shot 16-for-28 from the field, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc, while also collecting 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals.
Lakers veteran LeBron James, who scored 27 points, praised Doncic’s performance when told the Slovenian star didn’t know how he managed to play so well.
“You can call that an out-of-body experience then, because he was locked in from start to finish,” James said.
When asked if he felt the night brought some closure to his chapter in Dallas, Doncic took some time to think on his answer.
“It’s a hard question,” he said. “For sure, it’s a little bit more. Talking about closure, sometimes hard because I spent a lot of time here. Great moments. But it’s getting more and more [normal].
“I got to focus on different things now.”
