The Luka Dončić trade still lingers like a bad dream in Dallas - and for good reason. The Mavericks didn’t just part ways with a superstar; they let go of a generational talent who had openly committed to the franchise for the long haul.
When Dončić was shipped to the Lakers last season with little warning, it sent shockwaves through the fanbase. And while time has passed, the emotional scar hasn’t fully healed.
That much was clear when the Lakers came to town this season. Dončić, now donning purple and gold, put on another show in his old stomping grounds.
Luka Doncic joins the Inside the NBA crew after dropping 33 points on his former team in Dallas 🙌
— ESPN (@espn) January 25, 2026
And yes, he did accidentally walk toward the wrong locker room at halftime 😅 pic.twitter.com/krn2nimVFr
And even though the performance wasn’t quite as dominant as his first return trip, it was still vintage Luka: 33 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds in a come-from-behind Lakers win. The numbers speak for themselves - Dončić still knows how to control a game, even when the crowd is torn between awe and heartbreak.
But it wasn’t just the stat sheet that reminded fans of what they lost. At halftime, during a live interview with the Inside the NBA crew, Dončić shared a moment that hit home.
He admitted that, out of habit, he accidentally started walking toward the Mavericks’ locker room before catching himself. It was a subtle detail, but one that said a lot.
For all the changes, Dallas still feels like home to him - and maybe always will.
Dončić’s story in Dallas began back in 2018, when the Mavericks took him third overall in the NBA Draft. Already a star in Europe, he arrived with sky-high expectations - and somehow exceeded them.
He wasn’t just the heir to Dirk Nowitzki’s throne; he became the face of the franchise in record time. Over six seasons, Dončić racked up five All-Star and All-NBA selections, a Rookie of the Year award, a scoring title, and most notably, led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024, where they fell to the Celtics.
That Finals run felt like the start of something. Instead, it turned out to be the beginning of the end.
Just one season later, Dallas stunned the league by trading Dončić to the Lakers in a blockbuster deal that brought back Anthony Davis and Max Christie. The timing - just weeks before the trade deadline - and the secrecy surrounding the move made it all the more jarring.
In an era where rumors leak like clockwork, this one came out of nowhere.
Former GM Nico Harrison’s explanation for the trade did little to soften the blow. Fans were furious, not just because of who Dončić was on the court, but because of what he represented: loyalty, leadership, and a belief in the Mavericks’ long-term vision.
He had said he wanted to retire in Dallas. That kind of commitment is rare - and it’s exactly what made the trade so painful.
Now, as Dončić continues to thrive in Los Angeles, Mavericks fans are left wondering what could’ve been. Every time he steps back onto the American Airlines Center floor, it’s a reminder of the star they once had - and the future they thought they were building around him.