Luka Doncic Lakers debut against the Mavericks drew major buzz as the star guard faced his former team for the first time since the trade.
Before tipoff, Luka Doncic greets old teammates.
Doncic remained calm during pregame warmups in spite of the intense emotions surrounding the game. Before the game, he didn’t spend much time with the Mavericks staff and players.
He grinned and gave his old colleagues quick hugs at midcourt as the first tip-off approached. Fans recalled Doncic and Kyrie Irving’s 2024 NBA Finals run during a friendly positional duel.
Doncic’s passion is on display when he plays against the Mavericks.
From the first few minutes, Doncic expressed his emotions. After arguing a non-call, he picked up a technical foul, setting the tone for an intense matchup.
He quickly made his presence known on the scoreboard, draining five consecutive points, including a deep 29-foot three-pointer that gave the Lakers a 16-14 lead.
Doncic sent a strong message to his old club by turning and staring down the Mavericks bench as soon as he sank the jumper
A Near-Perfect Start, But One Shot Gets Reversed
Doncic stayed aggressive, knocking down another three-pointer.But after reviewing the footage, authorities determined that his foot had just barely over the line, eliminating the point.
Fans anxiously followed every move as the Lakers’ newest star tried to make an impression, their emotions running high.
Source: USA Today
