The basketball world was taken aback earlier this month when the Dallas Mavericks traded star guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. Not only was the trade unexpected, but it also came as a surprise to fans and analysts alike. ESPN’s Shams Charania announced the deal shortly after midnight on February 2, leading to widespread speculation and discussion about the implications of this decision. Since then, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has faced considerable criticism regarding both the trade itself and the handling of its fallout.
Tuesday night in Los Angeles, Doncic faced his former team for the first time as the Lakers squared off against the Mavericks. The Lakers took home a 107-99 victory, with Doncic contributing 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, marking his 81st career triple-double. After the game, he described the experience of playing against the Mavericks as emotional, mentioning the lack of sleep leading up to the match. “It was just a lot of emotions and not much sleep,” Doncic said via ESPN. “I’m just glad it’s over, honestly,” he added.
Though Doncic has only played five games with the Lakers, he is still adjusting to his new team, averaging 19 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists per game. This scoring average is significantly below his career norm of 28.5 points per game, yet he is expected to ramp up his contributions as he becomes more accustomed to the offense. Doncic’s return to Dallas is on the horizon, set for April 9 during the final week of the regular season, generating anticipation for fans on both sides.
