Luka Doncic walked into the American Airlines Center once again—but not as the home crowd’s hero. This time, he was headed toward the visitor’s locker room, wearing purple and gold. Just over two months ago, the Mavericks pulled off a shocking trade that sent their franchise centerpiece to the Lakers.
But Dallas didn’t let the night start without a tribute. Before tip-off, a video rolled on the jumbotron—highlighting Luka’s best moments in a Mavs jersey. From that unforgettable 2018 draft night to his dagger threes in the playoffs, it was all there. And man, watching him during the montage? You could see it hit him. His face tightened. Eyes glossy. It felt like he was doing everything he could to stay composed.
And while the home crowd was caught up in nostalgia, his new team stayed locked in on the moment. During the broadcast, a message came straight from the Lakers‘ side of the tunnel: “Yeah, Billy. Look. I asked you what the approach here with your name considering everything, all of the emotion in the building that you just saw in that video. And he said, well, it’s pretty simple. We’ve got your back. That’s what the Lakers wanna show Luka. He is a Laker now. He’s wearing. They have his back, of course, full support, and they’re gonna show him that on this board and what’s certainly an emotional evening for him.”
So yeah, it was emotional. Not just for Luka, but for anyone who watched him grow up in that building. The jersey may have changed, but the memories didn’t. But while the crowd showed love to their former star, that same energy didn’t extend to the man who sent him packing. Mavericks GM Nico Harrison was in the building—and fans didn’t hold back.
Harrison made his way to the American Airlines Center for Doncic’s emotional homecoming—but let’s be real, the vibes were icy. As players hit the floor for warmups, fans caught sight of the Mavericks GM hanging around courtside and in the tunnel.
The crowd let it rip. Loud “Fire Nico” chants rained down from the stands while Harrison stood near the tunnel.
This is a developing story…
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