Luka Dončić's Emotional Return to Dallas: 45-Point Performance and a Bittersweet Farewell

Luka Dončić’s return to Dallas on April 9, 2025, was filled with intense emotions as he faced the Mavericks for the first time since his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. The moment was particularly emotional for Dončić, who spent 6½ seasons in Dallas before his world was flipped upside down by the February trade. Before the game, the Mavericks honored him with a lengthy tribute video during player introductions. The video, which displayed a montage of his most iconic plays and highlights, made Dončić emotional. He buried his head in a towel as tears welled up in his eyes, struggling to keep it together. "After that video, I was like, 'There’s no way I’m playing this game,'" Dončić admitted. "It was so many emotions."

Despite the overwhelming emotions, Dončić did play—and he played brilliantly. He dominated the game, scoring 45 points, tying his season-high, and leading the Lakers to a 112-97 victory that secured their playoff berth. The performance served as a painful reminder to Mavs fans of the player the franchise traded away in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a future first-round pick. After Dončić checked out with 1:34 remaining, the Lakers’ bench erupted in celebration, chanting “Luka! Luka!” while Dončić shared the moment with his new teammates, clearly appreciative of their support. "Big time, because they all had my back," Dončić said. "Everybody had my back, from coaches to players, and we’re trying to build something special here. That was really, really, really nice to see."

Lakers head coach JJ Redick jokingly wished Dončić had scored 50 points, but acknowledged that the moment was a significant step forward for the team. "Greg [St. Jean] said to me, 'This is going to be awesome for our group to go through this with him, and for him to go through this with them,'" Redick said, reflecting on the moment. "Does that mean we’re going to win an NBA championship or get to the conference finals? I don’t know. But it was an awesome moment for everyone."

Not everyone shared in the celebration, however. Throughout the game, when the Lakers went to the free-throw line, loud "Fire Nico!" chants echoed through American Airlines Center. Nico Harrison, the Mavs president of basketball operations and general manager who orchestrated the trade, spent the night standing in a tunnel near midcourt, staying mostly out of sight. When Dončić checked out after the game, the crowd’s “Fire Nico!” chant resurfaced, underscoring the anger and frustration that many fans still held toward the trade.

The day itself was more than just a basketball game. Fans gathered outside the arena, near Dirk Nowitzki's statue, hours before tipoff. Some gathered to celebrate Dončić’s return, while others vented their anger about the trade that had sent him to the Lakers. There were signs, chants, and even one fan in a blue Dončić jersey who spent the afternoon running 77 laps around the arena as a form of protest.

Dončić’s emotions mirrored those of the fans. "It was a little bit of both, happy and angry," he said when reflecting on his arrival at the arena in his Apocalypse HellFire Jeep. "But it’s nice to see some familiar faces here. ... I really appreciate the fans, the way they reacted to me." The Mavs organization also showed their gratitude, placing “Hvala za vse” T-shirts on every seat in the arena. The Slovenian phrase, meaning "Thank you for everything," was a poignant gesture acknowledging Dončić’s impact on the franchise. Important figures from Dončić’s time in Dallas, like Nowitzki and former owner Mark Cuban, were present for the tribute, though Cuban wore a Davis T-shirt, a nod to the new star in Dallas.

As for the game itself, Anthony Davis, who was still adjusting to his new role with the Mavericks, had a quiet night. He finished with 13 points on 5-for-13 shooting, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. Max Christie, another player acquired in the trade, scored 11 points off the bench against his former team. Despite the trade-related tensions, both teams remained focused on the game.

Dončić wasted no time making his presence felt. He scored 14 points in the first quarter and had 31 points by halftime. By the time the game was over, he had finished 16-for-28 from the field, including 7-of-10 from 3-point range, adding 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Lakers coach Redick noted, "He got into the rhythm early, and he never really lost that rhythm."

Before the game, Mavs coach Jason Kidd reflected on the trade, drawing a comparison to the infamous Babe Ruth trade between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. "Trades happen, this won’t be the last trade," Kidd said. "Some have compared it to Babe Ruth, which is kind of cool." While the comparison may have been a bit off, given the “Curse of the Bambino” that haunted Boston after parting with Ruth, the Mavericks made sure to honor Dončić during his return. Mavs players like Dereck Lively II exchanged signed jerseys with Dončić, and Daniel Gafford acknowledged how special the tribute was. "I saw he was crying for his tribute video," Gafford said. "I was just whispering to myself, 'As he should.' ... It was a great night for him, for sure."

Even LeBron James, who scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half to help the Lakers stave off a Mavs comeback, praised Dončić’s performance. When James was told that Dončić was unsure how he played so well, he simply said, “You can call that an out-of-body experience then, because he was locked in from start to finish.”

After the game, Dončić was asked if he felt he had found closure after the trade. It was a tough question for him to answer. "It’s a hard question," he said. "For sure, it’s a little bit more. Talking about closure, sometimes hard because I spent a lot of time here. Great moments. But it’s getting more and more [normal]. I got to focus on different things now." And with that, Dončić moved forward, leaving his emotions on the court and his past in Dallas behind him.