Chants of “Thank you, Nico” stuffed Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Area as Luka Doncic stepped to the free throw line.
The jeers, whereas condescending in nature, got here from a crowd of Lakers followers who’re genuinely grateful to have Doncic in Los Angeles.
Monday evening’s sport was the primary between the Lakers and Mavericks since they shocked the sports activities world with this month’s blockbuster commerce sending the 25-year-old Doncic to Los Angeles and the 31-year-old Anthony Davis to Dallas.
Mavericks common supervisor Nico Harrison, now the supply of main rivalry in Dallas, attended Monday’s sport in L.A., the place Doncic reminded the Mavericks of precisely what they’re lacking.
Doncic scored 19 factors with 15 rebounds and 12 assists within the Lakers’ 107-99 win. It was Doncic’s first triple-double with the Lakers after recording 80 throughout his six-plus seasons with Dallas.
“The closure is going to take a while, I think,” Doncic stated afterward. “It’s not ideal, but I’m glad this game is over. There’s a lot of emotions, but we go little by little, and every day is better.”
Whereas Doncic shot simply 6-of-17, he offered a number of highlights. None have been prettier than the no-look cross he threw over his shoulder to Austin Reeves for a first-quarter 3-pointer.
Doncic later drilled a 3-pointer of his personal, then stared on the Dallas bench. He stated he didn’t see Harrison throughout pregame warmups.
Within the fourth quarter, Doncic delivered three assists to LeBron James, who completed with a team-high 27 factors.
“It was awkward,” Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving stated of going through Doncic, “but at the same time, it was fun.”
Monday’s sport passed off lower than 4 weeks after the NBA-altering commerce, which additionally despatched Max Christie and a 2029 first-round decide to Dallas and Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to Los Angeles. The Utah Jazz have been included within the three-team deal for monetary causes.
At his introductory press convention on Feb. 4, Doncic described the commerce as a “big shock” and reiterated that he had anticipated to spend his whole profession with the Mavericks.
In his personal preliminary feedback, Harrison pointed to Davis’ defensive prowess as a motivator for the commerce but additionally stated the Mavericks “got out in front of what could have been a tumultuous summer.”
Had he had not been traded, Doncic would have been eligible this offseason for a supermax contract value $345 million over 5 years. Harrison and Doncic each stated the latter by no means indicated he wouldn’t signal a supermax extension.
The Mavericks’ entrance workplace had reportedly grown bored with Doncic’s inconsistent conditioning and weight fluctuations. The commerce occurred whereas Doncic was out along with his fourth harm to his left calf since 2022.
However Dallas’ choice to half with Doncic was nearly universally panned, contemplating the generational play-maker had earned first-team All-NBA honors in every of the final 5 seasons and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals solely eight months earlier.
Earlier than the Mavericks’ first residence sport after the commerce, Mavericks followers congregated exterior the American Airways Heart and expressed their displeasure with chants, indicators and even a transportable billboard calling to “Fire Nico.”
A number of followers have since been ejected from Mavericks residence video games for comparable protests inside the world.
It hasn’t helped that Davis, a 10-time All-Star with a prolonged harm historical past, left his Mavericks debut with a left adductor pressure and has not performed since.
Doncic is averaging 19 factors, 9 rebounds and 7 assists via 5 video games with the Lakers.
He admitted it felt “so weird” going through the Mavericks, whom he’s set to play once more in his return to Dallas on April 9.
“There were moments I felt like I don’t know what I was doing,” Doncic stated. “I’m glad we got a win.”
