Photo Courtesy Scott Peek Photography
Sam Morse
67 days.
That’s how long it’s been since Luka Doncic was shipped to Los Angeles. On April 9, more than two months after the trade, Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers traveled to play the Dallas Mavericks: Luka’s return to Dallas. Although Doncic had played in the American Airlines Center (AAC) hundreds of times, this time was different—he was representing the Lakers’ purple and gold.
I still haven’t gotten used to seeing him in those colors.
The trade sent shockwaves around the Dallas community, especially on April 9.
As I entered the arena, I saw a sea of Doncic jerseys – half Mavericks, half Lakers. The people in the arena weren’t loyal to the Mavericks — they were loyal to Luka Doncic.
The home court advantage was lopsided, almost reversed. The chorus of “boos” for a team at home was not only surprising, but deafening. Every time Doncic scored, the arena would burst into cheers, but when the announcer tried to energize the crowd for Dallas, the enthusiasm wasn’t reciprocated.
The entire arena rallied around one person, someone who was playing for the other team.
Over his seven years as a Maverick, Doncic built an unbreakable connection with the fans, quickly becoming my favorite NBA player. Doncic had become the identity of the team and played a significant role in the city’s culture. So when Doncic left, I felt dissociated from the Mavericks, and I drifted away from the team as quickly as I fell in love with it.
At the game, I felt torn, yet excited. Although I was wearing a Mavericks jersey, I only wanted to cheer when Luka was playing. It was heartbreaking to see my favorite team abandon what they’re known for, having to restart from scratch. Despite returning for the first time in months, having Doncic in the arena felt natural, as if he had never left.
It was even more heartbreaking to see that Doncic felt just as emotional. During his tribute video before tip-off, Doncic’s lip began to quiver and his eyes grew teary, clearly overwhelmed by the city’s support.
It was especially bitter-sweet when Dallas was handed a 15-point loss by the Lakers. To deepen the wound, Doncic led his team to victory while on a mission, determined to prove a point.
45 points, eight rebounds and six assists while shooting 16-28 from the field: impressive numbers to say the least.
Then came April 21. Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison admitted he didn’t fully realize just how much Doncic meant to the fan base.
I find that hard to believe.
Harrison’s responsibility is to understand. It is his job to know the pulse of this city, this team, and its supporters. But what’s done is done.
It took Luka leaving for us to truly recognize everything he gave to Dallas. Now, amidst that heartbreak, the fanbase stands at a crossroads. I’m still figuring out where I stand. Looking forward, I may not know which team I support, but I know who I’ll cheer for.