The night of April 10, 2025, was etched in Luka Doncic's calendar. It was the first time he had to return to Dallas after his abrupt departure from the Mavericks on February 2, and after a reception at the American Airlines Center that showed an emotional video that made him cry, Doncic delivered one of the best performances of the season, leading Lakers to a 97-112 win with 45 points.

No One Wanted to Miss Doncic's Return to Dallas

As expected, no one in Dallas wanted to miss Luka Doncic's return to the American Airlines Center, which until a few weeks ago had been his home since arriving in the NBA. Present in the stands were figures such as Dirk Nowitzki and Patrick Mahomes, along with countless fans in the crowd proudly wearing the number 77 jersey of Doncic with the Mavericks.

"When I saw the video, I told myself 'there's no way I can play this game,' but my teammates supported me a lot, and I really appreciate it," said Luka Doncic after a game in which he surely experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. "I love these fans, I love this city. So many emotions, I can't explain them. I came here at 18, not knowing what to expect from the NBA, and they made me feel at home," said the Lakers player.

Dallas Demands the Firing of Nico Harrison

However, even the emotional video projected in the Dallas arena didn't faze Luka Doncic, who, as soon as the game began, unleashed all of his magical tricks. His numbers confirm the sensations: 45 points, seven from beyond the arc with a 70% shooting accuracy, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals during the 38 minutes he was on the court. A performance that his coach, JJ Redick, described as "superhuman."

The decision to trade Luka Doncic will always be remembered as the most surprising in NBA history. At the time, Nico Harrison justified it by claiming that with Anthony Davis, the Mavericks would be much closer to winning an NBA title. However, the reality shows that Lakers began to soar since Doncic's arrival, while the Mavericks have barely managed to secure a play-in spot in the Western Conference. It's no surprise that after Doncic's exhibition, the fans didn't hesitate to chant, "Fire Nico, fire Nico!"