Luka Doncic’s Emotional Return: Lakers Triumph Over Mavericks
LOS ANGELES — In a game that was as much about emotions as it was about basketball, Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-99 win over his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, on Tuesday night. This victory was not just another notch in the win column; it marked a significant milestone for Doncic, who became only the third player to record a triple-double against every NBA franchise. Yet, despite this achievement, Doncic’s postgame demeanor was far from celebratory.
Instead of basking in the glory of his performance, Doncic appeared relieved. “It was just a lot of emotions and not much sleep,” he admitted, reflecting on the game that came just 3½ weeks after his trade from the Dallas Mavericks to Los Angeles. “I can’t even explain [it]. It was a different game. … Sometimes I don’t know what I was doing. And I’m just glad it’s over, honestly.”
Doncic’s stat line was impressive, with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists. This performance placed him alongside teammate LeBron James and Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook as the only players to achieve a triple-double against all 30 teams. However, Doncic’s shooting was less than stellar, going 6-for-17 from the field and 1-for-7 from beyond the arc. It was James who took charge in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 of his 27 points on 7-for-9 shooting to secure the win.
The game was a significant emotional hurdle for Doncic, who had to face not only his former teammates but also the Mavericks’ management, including general manager Nico Harrison and coach Jason Kidd. “It definitely will help me,” Doncic said about moving past this game. “It’s definitely going to help in the long [run].”
During pregame warmups, Harrison was present on the sideline, though Doncic claimed he didn’t notice him. However, he was acutely aware of the Mavericks’ bench, directing several shouts and stare-downs after making plays for his new team.
LeBron James, reflecting on Doncic’s situation, said, “Obviously there’s a lot of emotion that goes in when you give so much to a franchise and you sacrifice for a franchise and you have that type of love and respect for a franchise — throughout all the journeys. They went to the Finals, all that stuff. He’s grown from being an 18-, 19-year-old kid to now a 25-year-old man with a family. … And when you move on or they move on from you, it’s very emotional, obviously. It’s very taxing.”
On the other side, Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, who led all scorers with 35 points, described the matchup as “awkward as s—” after facing off against Doncic, his former teammate with whom he reached the Finals last season. “But,” Irving added, “at the same time, it was fun. We got a chance to feel like we were in practice all over again going at each other. That was a good reflection point. And then just seeing the crowd cheer for him and just get him going. … It was fun competing.”
Doncic referred to Irving as his “hermano” and emphasized that their relationship extends “way beyond basketball.”
- The teams are set to meet again in Dallas on April 9.
- Anthony Davis, traded from L.A. to Dallas, is expected to recover from his left adductor strain by then.
- Lakers coach JJ Redick acknowledged the emotional complexity of the game.
Redick commented on the situation, saying, “You kind of just got to embrace it. It’s just a little weird. It just naturally is. … It’s healthy, actually, just to acknowledge it and embrace it. And then you play the game and then you never have to do that again.”
As Doncic and the Lakers look forward to their next encounter with Dallas, they will have more time to adjust to their new reality. “I mean, the closure is going to take a while, I think,” Doncic said. “It’s not ideal. But, like I said, I’m glad this game is over. There was a lot of emotions. But we go little by little, and every day is better.”
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon contributed to this report.
Originally Written by: Dave McMenamin
