Paul Pierce predicted that Luka Dončić would disappoint in his return to Dallas on Thursday night, and he was quick to take a victory lap on that prediction. However, as soon as the game commenced, things took an unexpected turn. Ahead of Dončić’s first game in Dallas since his move to the Los Angeles Lakers, Pierce anticipated that emotional factors would overwhelm the NBA superstar.
“We’ve seen Klay [Thompson] to Golden State, we’ve seen Jimmy Butler to Miami, and neither one of them performed well,” Pierce remarked on FS1’s Speak. “As a player, as a competitor, when you get traded or leave on a bad note, your initial instinct is to get back there and prove yourself.” While Dončić surely aimed to make a statement, Pierce noted that emotions can overpower players when they are reunited with former teammates and familiar faces, especially during tribute video presentations. “The emotions drain all the animosity out of you,” he added, predicting a performance from Dončić that wouldn’t live up to his usual standards due to those heightened feelings.
Hours later, as Dončić began to tear up during his tribute video before tip-off, Pierce seized the moment for his victory lap. “That’s too emotional for him. Man, he can’t take it, dog. Look, he about to cry. He’s crying! Told y’all,” Pierce exclaimed while observing Dončić’s reaction. “He ain’t gonna be able to play tonight. LeBron’s gonna have to save him. I told you, he’s too emotional right now. Man, hand it over to LeBron, man, let him bring home the win. I told y’all!”
Paul Pierce reacts to Luka Doncic tearing up during his Mavs pregame tribute video pic.twitter.com/OIsQO3K8St
— 2Cool2Blog (@2Cool2Blog) April 10, 2025
Unfortunately for Pierce, his victory lap came a few minutes too early. Had he waited for the game to start, he would have quickly realized that Dončić’s emotions did not dissolve his competitive spirit. The player scored 31 points in the first half and finished with 45, leading LeBron James and the Lakers to a 112-97 victory over Dallas.
If Pierce had merely stuck to his comments from Speak, his take might not have seemed as harsh. However, his “told y’all” victory lap, just moments before Dončić’s stunning performance, turned the whole situation into a brutally cold take.
