DALLAS — Luka Doncic entered the courtroom with the Los Angeles Lakers for his first recreation again in Dallas to cheers in an area the place draped over each seat was a T-shirt with “Hvala za vse” throughout the entrance.
That Slovenian phrase interprets to “thanks for every little thing.”
Then got here the tribute, a video of Doncic’s time with the Mavericks after the remainder of the Lakers’ beginning lineup had been launched earlier than his first recreation again in Dallas on Wednesday night time, when he scored 45 factors to match a season excessive in a 112-97 victory that clinched a playoff spot for the Lakers.
“Introduced tears to my eyes,” Doncic informed ESPN proper after the sport. “I got here as a younger child right here, was 18, and never figuring out what to anticipate from NBA, and (the Mavericks) made me really feel like house, and it is simply loads of nice, nice reminiscences.”
Doncic was alone on the bench for greater than two minutes wanting as much as a few of his many highlights in Dallas – from his NBA rookie of the 12 months season into final 12 months’s NBA Finals – although he did not make it all through earlier than placing his head down and wiping away tears. His eyes have been nonetheless pink as soon as he was launched and got here on the courtroom along with his teammates who surrounded him, together with a number of hugs.
As for taking part in after that emotional video, he stated, “I do not know the way I did it as a result of once I was watching that video, I used to be like, ‘There isn’t any manner I am enjoying this recreation.’ However, , all my teammates had my again. They have been actually supporting me.”
Everybody knew it was going to be an emotional night time with Doncic carrying his No. 77 jersey for the Lakers. It was for each the 26-year-old from Slovenia and people Mavericks followers who have been there when he wore that quantity in Mavericks blue the primary 5 1/2 seasons of his profession.
Proper after tipoff, the mantra “Fireplace Nico” broke out, directed towards Nico Harrison, the Mavericks common supervisor who traded Doncic. That chant received louder and longer within the first quarter, and was repeated quite a few occasions all through the sport.
Doncic’s return got here two months after that seismic commerce out of nowhere. He had been the face of the Mavericks, and he was the NBA scoring champion final season after they made it to the NBA Finals. The 2019 rookie of the 12 months had two seasons left on his contract earlier than the commerce the primary weekend of February in a bundle that introduced Anthony Davis to Dallas.
“Truthfully, I do not learn about closure. It is clearly so much,” Doncic stated after a loss at Oklahoma Metropolis on Tuesday night time. “I do know the followers are going to understand me being again right here. Truthfully, I do not know the way I’ll really feel, however I am simply excited to be again.”
Not lengthy earlier than the sold-out recreation, tickets on the secondary marketplace for upper-level seats have been nonetheless listed for greater than $200, excluding charges. For the Mavericks ultimate house recreation Friday night time in opposition to Toronto, related tickets have been accessible for lower than $20 earlier than charges.
Mavericks followers performed a mock funeral outdoors the American Airways Middle on Feb. 2, proper after information of the commerce late the earlier night time. There have been protests and loads of ire directed at Harrison, together with “Fireplace Nico!” displaying up on loads of indicators and T-shirts. As for the GM, he hasn’t spoken to the media since feedback he made proper after the deal was carried out when he stated he felt the staff was “constructed to win now in addition to sooner or later.”
Whereas there have been no organized protests outdoors the sector earlier than the sport, loads of folks wore No. 77 jerseys – each the purple and gold ones of the Lakers and Mavericks jerseys as properly, although a few of these house ones had the Dallas brand lined up. There have been even some Slovenia jerseys.
One fan sitting a few rows behind the Dallas bench had a Mavericks No. 77 jersey, however had “Lakers” written on duct tape overlaying up the brand. A fan outdoors wore a Los Angeles jersey with duct tape overlaying the Lakers brand that learn “Former Mavs fan.”
This is not the primary time Doncic performed the Mavericks. He had a triple-double (19 factors, 15 rebounds and 12 assists) within the Lakers’ 107-99 house win on Feb. 25, solely 23 days after the commerce.
Copyright © 2025 by The Related Press. All Rights Reserved.
