The return of Luka Dončić in purple and gold is expected to calcify hurt feelings for Dallas Mavericks fans, even as the game is set to be a spectacle.
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Wednesday will make it 66 days since the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the most earth-shaking transactions in modern sports history. The number represents an unfortunate coincidence as it marks the date of Dončić’s painful return to the American Airlines Center after Nico Harrison and Patrick Dumont turned on the franchise Jedi with an Order 66 of their own.
The trade, which took place in the middle of the night and felt like a waking nightmare, was instantly seen as the worst organizational decision in Mavericks history, and has aged even worse as the Mavericks roster, organization and culture have all but crumbled in its wake.
Following the move, the Mavericks’ fan base, initially excited throughout the season’s first few months for the prospect of an NBA Finals follow-up run, has been left to ponder what it means to be a Mavs fan in a world where Dončić suits up for a loathed conference rival.
As evidenced by the ‘Fire Nico’ chants that have made their way through the city’s events since February, the fundamental issue not anticipated by the new owners of the team, after wresting the franchise away from Mark Cuban, is the loyalty shown to, and received by, their franchise cornerstones.
Generations raised as Dirk Nowitzki fans were lucky enough to see a seamless transition to a new steward of Mavericks culture with the hope of a similar path to a championship being emulated. Last summer, they nearly pulled it off in Dončić’s first Finals appearance.
Meanwhile, in the weeks that followed the trade, the actions of the team painted a less than flattering picture of the franchise’s braintrust and soured some fans on the new ownership. With unattributed quotes questioning Dončić’s work ethic or with fans being removed from the arena for showing signs of displeasure, things haven’t been as straightforward for fans as the Dirk days.
Dončić, like Nowitzki before him, arrived via a draft day trade. He had also hoped to follow Nowitzki’s example of playing for one team over the course of his career, a fact confirmed by the player himself as he assured the franchise that he was ready to sign an extension with the team and even bought a house in Dallas in the days before he was abruptly shipped to Los Angeles.
By moving Dončić, the social contract between team and city feels irrevocably broken. Many fans have followed Dončić to Los Angeles, an unthinkable allegiance swap. Some have voiced their frustrations by staying away entirely, opting to show their displeasure by keeping their wallet in their pocket.
The front office has been remarkably quiet in the weeks since the trade, especially for a franchise-shifting move that required an all-in approach for owning their decision. Former majority owner Cuban has been the most outspoken, but has confirmed that he no longer has authority on any personnel decisions.
With no one assuring the fans of the vision that led to them putting away their blue #77 jerseys, they’ve been left with rumors and indifference as their only means for answers.
Now comes the hard part.
Dončić arrives in Dallas as a visitor for the first time in his career, a surreal moment that makes for the biggest night in an April regular season game for the NBA in years.
Luka’s Lakers are fighting for a top four seed as the Mavs struggle to remain in play-in contention. Many that have continued holding onto the MFFL mantra now hope for a torching of their own team, just for a night, to provide some vindication so that Harrison feels no gratification for a decision that left them reeling.
Famously leveling up when facing his perceived rivals, now Luka will have a WFAA and national television audience as he has the opportunity to directly release any pent-up fervor that he harbors towards the front office that abandoned loyalty, though any such big game would come at the expense of his former teammates.
The final tragedy is that, regardless of the box score, Dončić will leave Dallas at the end of the night, once again ripping open the wound that leaves the organization with the reality that they must move forward without their most recent generational talent, regardless of when Harrison makes the exit that has become an anthem around the city.
Dallas Mavericks injury report
- Anthony Davis: Probable (Left adductor strain)
- Kessler Edwards: Out (G League-Two Way)
- Dante Exum: Questionable (Left hand surgery)
- Jaden Hardy: Out (Right ankle sprain)
- Kyrie Irving: Out (Left knee surgery)
- Kai Jones: Out (G League-Two Way)
- Olivier-Maxence Prosper: Out (Right wrist surgery)
- Brandon Williams: Out (G League-Two Way)
Los Angeles Lakers injury report
- Jaxson Hayes: Probable (Right hand contusion)
- Bronny James: Questionable (Illness)
- Maxi Kleber: Out (Right foot surgery recovery)
Will you be rooting for Luka or the Mavs on Wednesday? Share your thoughts with Irvin on Bluesky @irvin.bsky.social.