Luka Doncic Returns to Dallas, But the Emotions Have Shifted
When Luka Doncic steps onto the court at American Airlines Center tonight, it won’t carry quite the same emotional weight as his first return to Dallas last season-but that doesn’t mean it won’t matter.
Doncic, now in his second season with the Lakers, is no stranger to the building where he became a franchise cornerstone. Last April, his first game back after the blockbuster trade that sent shockwaves through the league, was a raw, emotional night. The Mavericks honored him with a tribute video, and Doncic responded the only way he knows how-by torching his former team for 45 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a dominant performance that felt like both a farewell and a statement.
“Obviously, always going to feel like home there,” Doncic said ahead of tonight’s matchup. “Like I said, I needed that game [last year] to move on a little bit.
But obviously, I’ll always appreciate those fans. They were really tight.
I think we had a special bond. I really appreciate it all the time.”
That bond was real, and so was the fallout from the trade. Dallas fans didn’t take it lightly, and the Mavericks haven’t exactly thrived in the aftermath.
The team stumbled into the play-in tournament last season and was quickly bounced. This year hasn’t been much kinder-they’ve opened the campaign 19-26 and are still searching for rhythm and identity.
The front office didn’t survive the turbulence. General manager Nico Harrison was let go in November, part of a shakeup aimed at resetting the franchise’s direction. But head coach Jason Kidd isn’t interested in second-guessing how it all played out.
“No, I think it’s one year, and next year will be two years,” Kidd said when asked if he wished the trade could’ve been prevented. “Luka’s moved on, and we’ve moved on. … That’s just the business of basketball, gotta move forward.”
The Future in Focus: Cooper Flagg, Kyrie, and AD
While the Mavericks are still trying to find their footing, there’s cautious optimism around the future-particularly when it comes to the trio of rookie sensation Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis. That trio was supposed to be the new core, the foundation for Dallas' next chapter. But it’s been more of a blueprint than a reality so far.
Injuries have kept the vision from materializing. Davis has missed significant time, and Irving is still sidelined with the ACL tear that ended his season last March. Flagg, meanwhile, is working his way back from an ankle injury and will be on a 30-minute cap tonight after exceeding his 20-25-minute restriction in his first two games back.
“We would love to see that in ’26,” Kidd said, referring to the potential of seeing all three on the floor together. “There’s no guarantee.
… Until we get closer for Kai, or closer for AD, then we can start paying a little bit more attention to that. But right now those guys are out for some time.
…We would love to see that trio at some point.”
Flagg’s flashes have been enough to keep fans intrigued. He’s already shown a knack for the moment, and his two-way potential has the organization buzzing. But until Davis and Irving are back in the mix, it’s all hypothetical.
Weather Throws a Curveball
As if navigating injuries and roster uncertainty wasn’t enough, the Mavericks are now facing a logistical hurdle. Rough winter weather in Dallas could complicate their travel plans for Sunday night’s game in Milwaukee.
The current plan? Bus to a hotel after tonight’s game and fly out in the morning-weather permitting.
It’s another wrinkle in a season that’s been full of them. But for now, the spotlight is back on Doncic, back in the building where it all began. The emotions may have cooled, but the memories-and the stakes-are still very real.