Jerome Miron - Imagn Images
Wednesday night, Luka Doncic made an emotional return to Dallas for the first time since the most shocking trade in NBA history sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and other assets. Over two months since the February 2nd trade, it’s still a stunning move that will impact the NBA for a decade.
As for the return, it went very well for Luka Doncic and his Los Angeles Lakers teammates. After Doncic tried to hold back tears during a tribute video played for him, he lit the Mavericks up for 45 points, and NBA Analyst Jay Williams accused the Mavericks of “basketball treason”.
Doncic came out firing and tallied a ridiculous 31 points in the first half in his return to Dallas, and finished with a remarkable 45 points.
Luka Dončić in his return to Dallas: 😈😈
• 45 points – 16/28 FG // 7/10 3pt
• 8 assists
• 7 rebounds“i didn’t end up here by mistake. you know? i worked my ass off to be here”
super happy that he was able to go crazy after all that Nico & the Mavs said abt him pic.twitter.com/VAfIvLHZA9
— 🌟Fake (@LALeBron23) April 10, 2025
There’s no doubt that Mavericks GM Nico Harrison, who faced “Fire Nico” chants all night, was regretting trading Luka on Wednesday.
Luka Dončić finishes with 45 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals in his return to Dallas.
After he checks out for the final time, the crowd erupts into its loudest “Fire Nico” chant of the night as GM Nico Harrison watches from the tunnel.
Lakers win 112-97. pic.twitter.com/7qgWnYqTza
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) April 10, 2025
Dallas fans are still, for obvious reasons, ticked off about the trade, and Jay Williams sympathized with them.
Dallas didn’t trade Luka — they straight up committed basketball treason. Gifted him to LeBron like a donation. Now he’s back, dropping 45, 8 & 6, getting MVP chants in their own building. That’s not just self-sabotage — that’s a generational implosion.
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) April 10, 2025
He’s not wrong.
The win was actually a pretty big one for the Lakers, as it clinched them a top-six seed and kept them in pole position for the third seed in the