Like the rest of the world, I was shocked when Luka Dončić was traded to the Lakers. I immediately thought of how different my Dallas Mavericks ball-kid experience would be. 

There would be no more Luka jerseys, his face wouldn’t be on any more posters. I also wondered how different the game day experience would be. Before I even arrived for what would be the first home game without him, I got an email from my ballkid advisor saying additional safety measures and security personnel were put in place for the game. 

I guess Dallas doesn’t want to move on. 

I entered the American Airlines Center and continued on as usual: check in, put ACME brick sign on seats and head to my assigned location to greet incoming fans and pass out Whataburger coupons. 

I heard the rumors of another protest before the game and hoped fans wouldn’t harass me or other ballkids with questions and conspiracy theories. Some fans entered the arena wearing Luka jerseys which were now mementos of the past. 

A truck with a sign saying “Fire Nico, sell the team,” drove around the arena. But the concourse was business as usual, fans buying food and trying to find their seats. 

Sitting in the press box, I watched the Mavs starting lineup end with newly acquired power forward Anthony Davis. I expected to hear boos or see things thrown at him, but Davis was met with a standing ovation by a roaring crowd that packed the AAC. When Davis went on a personal 9-0 run and caused a Rockets timeout the AAC roared like they did for Luka, Dirk or even Jason Kidd. The same happened when new Maverick Max Christie nailed a three-pointer. 

I wondered where all the haters were, I knew then that though it would be different without 77, true Mavs Fans for Life, the fans in the arena, would always cheer for guys in the blue and white. The hecklers, bandwagons and guys on the outside may have abandoned their role as an MFFLs to join Laker Nation, but in Dallas past and present fans always stay true. 

When 2-time pro-bowler Herschel Walker was traded by the Cowboys in 1989, fans were disappointed but stayed loyal to the silver helmet and navy star. When 1995 rookie of the year Jason Kidd was traded to Phoenix Suns the next season, Mavs fans still filed into Reunion Arena. Through several disappointing Texas Rangers seasons, people still wear their red and blue baseball caps. 

Controversy isn’t always avoided when it comes to Dallas sports teams, and fans are usually upset every sport season, but in this city, you can never make a true fan reject their team.