Luka Doncic’s dramatic return to American Airlines Center for the first time as a member of the opposing team went how anyone in Dallas who’s followed the Mavericks’ former cornerstone would imagine.
A heightened sense of emotion coursed through the arena full of Doncic supporters, Mavericks fans and anyone in between Wednesday. From the moment Doncic entered the visitors’ tunnel with the Los Angeles Lakers, Mavericks fans took advantage of every opportunity to celebrate their former superstar, including any time he scored in the Lakers’ 112-97 win.
Doncic channeled any bottled-up feelings over the last two months since Dallas traded him into one of his best performances of the season: 45 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
The game was a stark reminder of the stunning trade that rattled the NBA. It was a game of celebration and mourning for a former superstar whom the Mavericks once believed would be the successor to Dirk Nowitzki. But the game also served as a turning of the page on Doncic’s premature final chapter in Dallas.
Be the smartest Mavericks fan. Get the latest news.
The game had postseason implications as Dallas attempted to clinch a spot in the Play-In Tournament for the first time in franchise history with either a win or a loss by 11th-place Phoenix to Oklahoma City.
It was also a reminder of what has become a transitional season for the Mavericks, a disappointing reality for a team that made the Finals last year and entered this season with championship expectations and Doncic as its star.
Now that the dust has settled on Doncic’s return, what does the road ahead look like for Dallas?
The short-term road lies in an attempt to reach the playoffs through the Play-In tournament. Dallas will likely need to win two games on the road before they can even think about a potential postseason rematch with top-seeded Oklahoma City.
The long-term outlook is more precarious. The Mavericks’ headliners are Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. It’s a team with a prominent frontcourt presence, but one with thin backcourt depth since Irving will likely miss the first few months of next season to recover from a torn left ACL.
The Mavericks could’ve used the injured-Irving’s services on Wednesday as Davis and Thompson combined to score 19 points, 13 of which belonged to Davis.
Doncic was far and away the best player on the floor. His memorable night began before the ball was tipped as he was the final Lakers player introduced in the starting lineups. Doncic, who spent 6.5 seasons in Dallas, was visibly emotional and held back tears as he watched the compilation of memorable moments in a Mavericks jersey.
The emotions from the crowd alternated between adoration and disdain as cheers for Doncic turned to jeers for Nico Harrison, the Mavericks general manager, who was heckled with “Fire Nico” chants throughout the game. Harrison watched from the tunnel between both benches, his usual viewing spot since the Feb. 1 trade.
The chants were at their loudest at the end of the game, resonating throughout the arena as the Mavericks suffered a third straight loss and one that was more personal than any that came before.
