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Inside Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas: Emotional moments, reunion scenes and a 45-point statement

Inside Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas: Emotional moments, reunion scenes and a 45-point statement

NBA

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By: Grant Afseth

Luka Doncic scored 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to Los Angeles, helping the Lakers secure a playoff spot with a 112-97 victory over the Mavericks on Wednesday night.

Doncic’s return came nearly two months after a blockbuster trade sent the five-time All-NBA First-Team guard to Los Angeles despite two years remaining on his contract. The 26-year-old Slovenian superstar spent his first six and a half NBA seasons with the Mavericks, where he quickly became the face of the franchise. His parents, agent Bill Duffy, manager Lara Beth Seager, and the Slovenian Basketball Federation President were among the notable attendees.

The 45 point-night matched Doncic’s season-high—a mark he reached once with Dallas and once with the Lakers. He added eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals in the win. He produced a dominant first half, with 31 points—the most he’s had as a Laker.

LeBron James finished with 27 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. The Lakers pulled away after trailing early in the final period, securing their third win in four days and maintaining their hold on the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings.

Anthony Davis, who was traded to Dallas in the same deal that sent Doncic to Los Angeles, had 13 points and 11 rebounds. Naji Marshall led the Mavericks with 23 points and eight assists.

Doncic returns to an emotional ovation

The Mavericks played a tribute video honoring Doncic before tipoff, showing career highlights from his time in Dallas. The team also gave every fan in attendance a T-shirt with the phrase “Thanks so much” written in Slovenian. The American Airlines Center crowd responded with loud applause and extended “Luka” chants, giving Doncic a standing ovation that visibly moved him.

“After that video, I was like, there’s no way I’m playing this game,” Doncic said. “It was so many emotions. I just went out there and played basketball.”

Even before the game began, the emotion in the building was apparent. Doncic received a loud ovation when he stepped onto the floor for his pregame workout.

As Doncic often did before playing for the Mavericks, he drilled a half-court shot, drawing a roar from the crowd that foreshadowed what would follow.

At the same time, chants of “Fire Nico” rang out just four seconds into the game and continued throughout each quarter — growing louder during key moments in the fourth. The frustration was directed at Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, who orchestrated the trade that sent Doncic to Los Angeles. Harrison watched the game from the tunnel as he has often done at Dallas home games since the trade. Harrison has faced steady criticism from the Dallas fan base since the deal. While fans made their displeasure with management known, their appreciation for Doncic never wavered.

Doncic received another ovation after his first points as a visitor in the building—a moment that signaled this was anything but a routine game for either side.

Doncic scored 14 points in the first quarter and received a standing ovation when he headed to the bench for the first time. The cheers were followed by mixed chants of “MVP” and “Fire Nico” as he stepped to the free throw line later in the half—a surreal blend of admiration and protest.

When Doncic checked out of the game late in the fourth quarter, he received another standing ovation—this time joined by the Lakers’ bench, with players chanting his name and mobbing him on the sideline.

“Honestly, I don’t really know. I wasn’t even thinking,” he said. “I was just sitting there like, ‘It’s over.’ We won, and I had a great time.”

Doncic delivers a complete performance

Doncic was sharp from the opening tip, carrying the Lakers offensively while showing command in every phase. His 45 points came on efficient shooting, and his ability to rebound, distribute, and force steals gave Los Angeles control throughout much of the night.

“Big time, because they all had my back,” Doncic said of his new teammates. “From coaches to players, we’re trying to build something special here.”

After Dallas erased a double-digit deficit and tied the game at 87, Los Angeles answered with a 25-10 run to close out the game. James sparked the surge with a three-point play at the 8:10 mark, then added a tough layup on the next possession to put the Lakers ahead for good. Doncic did it all, between a flashy reverse layup, a step-back 3-pointer, and a floater, while the Lakers’ defense held the Mavericks to just one field goal over a critical four-minute stretch.

“First of all, it’s big time that we clinched a playoff spot,” Doncic said. “You don’t want to be in the play-in. You get some rest. But obviously we want the third seed, and we’re going to go after it.”

During a late fourth-quarter timeout, Lakers teammates rallied around Doncic, clapping, smiling, and energizing him as the AAC crowd chanted his name. James and others began pumping up the crowd, fully leaning into the moment as if they understood the significance of Doncic’s return better than anyone.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks were receiving “Fire Nico” chants from the home crowd when they were shooting free throws in pivotal moments. Weeks ago, P.J. Washington stated the team is “sick and tired” of the “Fire Nico” chants when they are at the free-throw line, when one fan was doing it in a previous game. This game was a collective effort from the fans, roaring with their loudest chants down the stretch.

Familiar faces, final closure

Doncic admitted the return to Dallas stirred complex emotions, from nostalgia to exhaustion. He said he struggled to sleep before the game and was overwhelmed walking through the arena for the first time as a visitor—both during his pre-game workout and for the game.

“It was a little bit of both—happy and angry,” he said. “It was nice to see some familiar faces. I spent a lot of time with them. I really appreciate the fans and the way they reacted to me.”

Asked whether the experience brought him closure, Doncic paused.

“That’s a hard question. It’s for sure a little bit more,” he said. “Talking about closure is sometimes hard because, like I said, I spent a lot of time here. Great moments. But I’ve got to focus on different things now.”

Before participating in his on-court interview, Doncic shared a moment with plenty of former teammates. He also interacted with Davis, the star who was traded for him. He hugged Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (a longtime Mavericks fan) and Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban.

A final moment occurred with Doncic and the fanbase that had supported him for his whole NBA career and still does despite the trade. After hugging his father, Sasa, Doncic headed to the tunnel to a loud “Luka” chant, lifting his hands to show appreciation.

A trade with lasting impact

The February deal that sent Doncic to Los Angeles in exchange for Davis reshaped both franchises. Davis has since become the Mavericks’ anchor in the paint, while Doncic has helped elevate the Lakers as they push toward the postseason.

“We got traded for each other, so from now on everybody’s going to compare us two,” Doncic said. “But I think he’s an amazing player, and I think he’s going to do really good in Dallas.”

The Mavericks (38–42) are guaranteed a losing record one season after reaching the NBA Finals. They remain in 10th place in the West and are in a position to reach the play-in tournament. With Kyrie Irving sidelined for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL, the Mavericks will face a challenging path to getting through the play-in tournament and having to face a top team in the Western Conference if they manage to clinch a spot in the first round.

The Lakers, meanwhile, improved to 48–32 and will host the Rockets on Friday in their regular-season home finale. Dallas closes its home schedule on Friday against the Raptors.

Grant Afseth

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is grant-afseth) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.