NBA Insiders: Luka Dončić’s Emotional Return to Dallas
Apr 9, 2025, 10:26 PM ET
When the Dallas Mavericks made the shocking decision to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers on February 2, the question on every NBA fan’s mind was, “When do the Lakers play in Dallas next?” The answer was April 9, marking a nine-week wait for what would become one of the most anticipated regular-season games of the year. Although the Mavericks had already faced Dončić and his new team on March 1, resulting in a 109-104 Lakers victory, the showdown at the American Airlines Center was the league’s must-see event of the second half.
Dončić, the Dallas crowd, and both teams rose to the occasion, with the Mavericks’ former star reminding his old franchise why fans held protests and even a symbolic funeral after the trade. Behind a stellar performance of 45 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, Dončić led the Lakers to a 112-97 win over the Mavericks, securing a playoff spot for Los Angeles in the process. Following an emotional pregame introduction, Dončić poured in 31 first-half points, igniting the crowd with each touch.
From the electrifying atmosphere inside the arena to the Mavericks’ offseason strategies and the implications of this victory for the Lakers’ playoff chances, our ESPN insiders delve into the biggest questions surrounding Dončić’s first game back in Dallas.
1. The atmosphere in Dallas on Wednesday was _______
Emotional, electrifying, and extremely awkward at times. Tears streamed down Dončić’s face as the Mavericks’ tribute video played before his pregame introduction. It’s clear he’s still processing the heartbreak of being unexpectedly traded from the city he hoped would be his NBA home forever.
This sentiment was shared by the majority of fans at the American Airlines Center, including Dallas legend Dirk Nowitzki, who attended his first Mavericks home game since the trade. (The only other NBA game Nowitzki has watched in person since February 1? His friend Dončić’s Lakers debut in Los Angeles.)
A small percentage of fans donned white giveaway T-shirts with “Hvala za vse“—thanks for everything, in Slovenian—printed on the front. Many more wore Dončić’s No. 77 jerseys, from Mavericks to Slovenia to Lakers editions. Others wore shirts expressing their frustration with Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, the man primarily responsible for Dončić’s undesired departure.
- “Fire Nico!” chants were frequent, beginning with the first dead ball four seconds after the opening tip. Harrison pretended not to hear them as he stood in a midcourt tunnel, his seat unoccupied since the trade was made.
On the other hand, Dončić was showered with love and adoration as he lit up the franchise he hoped he’d belong to forever. — Tim MacMahon
2. Luka’s performance Wednesday night was _____
Everything we could have hoped. Capturing the moment, Dončić quickly transitioned from shedding tears to raining 3s. He made three shots from beyond the arc in each of the first two quarters, amassing 31 points, his most in a half with the Lakers.
Dončić’s scoring pace predictably slowed after halftime, highlighting the value of his partnership with James, who scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers extended their lead. Down the stretch, Dončić took over again, scoring seven consecutive points for L.A. starting at the 3:30 mark before leaving to a standing ovation with 45 points.
Dončić needed just 28 shot attempts, plus nine foul shots, to reach his total. Adding eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals, Dončić’s 48.1 game score was his second-highest this season, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
Mavericks fans have witnessed many of these incandescent performances from Dončić, making it bittersweet to see one in his return. Per ESPN Research, Dončić joined Wilt Chamberlain in 1964-65 as just the second player in NBA history to score at least 45 points both for and against the same team in the same season. — Kevin Pelton
3. The biggest offseason priorities for Dallas are ____
Getting back a healthy Kyrie Irving, utilizing their lottery pick, and exploring trades once again. Other than the veteran minimum exception, Dallas does not have money to spend in free agency. What they do have are three first-round picks and 12 players earning between $2 million and $16 million available to trade.
Is that enough to potentially bring in Kevin Durant to team up with Irving and Anthony Davis? Since they are projected to be a first-apron team, the Mavericks would need to trade at least four players and still remain below the apron—a tall task considering Irving, Durant, and Davis would earn a combined $150 million.
However, Harrison has a track record of big moves; the Mavericks roster that finishes the 2025-26 season could look very different than the one in October. Since taking over basketball operations in June 2021, Harrison has made 16 trades and has continually searched for the right combination of players to win a championship. The lone players remaining from the Mavericks’ 2022 Western Conference finals team are Dwight Powell and Spencer Dinwiddie. — Bobby Marks
4. In the playoffs, the Luka-led Lakers can go ______
… As far as their offense takes them. When Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves share the court, the Lakers score a scorching 119.5 points per 100 possessions, which ranks in the 83rd percentile of all lineups leaguewide, according to Cleaning the Glass. However, that trio allows an even higher 121.8 points per 100 possessions, ranking in the 8th percentile.
Despite a midseason surge and better defensive effort, the new-look Lakers are unlikely to actually slow down the best opposing offenses in the playoffs. But if Dončić, James, and Reaves can all click together, particularly as they gain more experience playing off each other, they’ll make up all those points and more on the other end.
The playoff bracket could end up favoring the Lakers, who are the favorites to land the West’s No. 3 seed, and therefore won’t have to face the Thunder until the conference finals. However, potential first-round matchups against the Nuggets, Warriors, Clippers, or Timberwolves could prove challenging.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Lakers lose in the first round, given the West is so packed with dangerous teams up and down the playoff field. But it also wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Lakers win a series, then knock off an inexperienced Rockets squad in the second round, and even challenge the Thunder—whom they blew out in Oklahoma City on Sunday and pushed in a competitive game on Tuesday—in the conference finals.
A team with two of the best players in the league is inherently a Finals contender, especially when they’re both such dynamic creators with ample experience tormenting playoff defenses. — Zach Kram
Originally Written by: NBA insiders
