Luka Doncic expected to play his entire career in Dallas, Texas.
That changed this past Saturday night when the Los Angeles Lakers acquired his services in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick.
It has torn the city of Dallas apart.
Protests were held outside American Airlines Center. Fans brought messages of revolt against the front office — GM Nico Harrison in particular — and messages of gratitude for their departed star. Many are delinking themselves from the Mavericks entirely.
In most cases, most would spit at those who choose to do so. This isn’t even close to most cases, though— it’s probably the only case of its kind.
After deep consideration, I’ve decided to no longer be a Mavs fan moving forward after 22 years.
I’ve made many connections with Mavs fans through this app and if you all decide not to stay I’ll understand. I’ll just be a hoop lover moving forward.
Love yall.
— MindOfReese (@MOFR25) February 2, 2025
Who Can The Public Trust?
It’s been a rough few months for those whose fandom resides with DFW’s sporting organizations.
Things were looking up from October of 2023 to June of 2024. In that time frame, the Texas Rangers not only made the World Series — defeating their bitter inter-state rival Houston Astros to do so — they won the whole thing. Convincingly won it, for that matter, in five games against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Then, simultaneously, the Mavericks and Dallas Stars both made the Conference Finals, with the former ending in a trip to the NBA Finals. Before that, an MVP-level season by Dallas’ QB Dak Prescott took place.
Sure, that season ended with the Packers running roughshod on the Cowboys in the Wild Card, but people enjoyed watching him sling the rock better than any QB that year. Things looked great for DFW sports and their fans.
Then, it all crumbled.
The Rangers incurred an injury-riddled 2024 that saw them miss the playoffs entirely. The Cowboys ran a fugazi “all-in” operation that saw them hold out on getting contracts done for both Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb, make no big moves in free agency, and had several heart-breaking injuries. All of it turned into a 6-10 record and the firing of HC Mike McCarthy— a firing that they mishandled by waiting till the last minute to let him go, then not making more than the minimum effort to get to their next head coach, Brian Schottenheimer.
There’s Still The Mavericks… Right?
It surely seemed that way. Harrison had made several moves that strengthened the reigning Western Conference champions over the offseason. Even when the injury bug hit, Mavs fans held out hope until the team got healthy at the All-Star Break.
Then, it happened. The star of the franchise — of the city to some people — shipped off to the bright LA lights.
Tensions were already high with the biggest sports brand in DFW. No one takes Jerry or Stephen Jones seriously at all, and the Rangers are simply an unknown due to all their injuries. The Mavericks were a constant. Their fans were under the belief that they would become the reality show everyone seems to view the Cowboys as now. They respected the front office, which brought them many key contributions over the years.
That trust is ancient history now.
If there are any positives to take from this, perhaps the Stars will gain more fans from this debacle. They’re killing it and seem to be DFW’s best hope for sporting success, but they’re the least popular major sports entity in the area. Maybe that will change now.
To all the Mavericks fans, welcome to the Stars fanbase.
— Blackout Dallas (@BlackoutDallas) February 2, 2025
You Don’t Get Generational Often
That term has been given a whole lot of definitions, but the consensus definition seems to be “someone who is so much better than their competitors that their level of dominance is only seen once in a generation.” Some states are lucky to ever get one such athlete in an average human life cycle. Dallas got two — Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic — within the last 20 years.
Those types of talents usually stay for a while, too. LeBron spent a combined 11 seasons in Cleveland. Jordan spent 13 with the Chicago Bulls. Patrick Mahomes is about to finish year seven with Kansas City. Dirk himself spent 20 years with the Mavericks. Generational talents usually last decades in the organization that first housed them.
They don’t get traded for pennies at 11:00 PM on a Saturday.
Luka put people in the seats because of how good he was. He made many fans of his into Mavs fans by his near presence alone. Dallas had a guy— THE guy who could duel and, with regularity, beat the best in his league.
They traded him away. He traded him away. Nico Harrison looked at Dallas’ best athlete in 20+ years, shipped him out of town, and then ran a smear campaign that only those in the political department could hold a candle to.
Generational doesn’t happen every day. Who knows if the Mavericks will ever get it again? What if the city never gets it again?
A City In Mourning
This is being treated like a death in the city of Dallas— and in some ways, it is.
It’s the abrupt end to what was anticipated to be the Luka Doncic Era in the city. A young man from Slovenia left Real Madrid for a place he never stepped foot in before, and they welcomed him with open arms. Over time, he gave back to the community on and off the court. He started the Luka Doncic Foundation in Dallas. He regularly attended events for fans of all ages. The city of Dallas was “his home away from home”— just listen to the man himself!
From the depths of the lottery, he brought the Mavericks to two WCF appearances, winning a trip to the Finals the second time around. Legendary performance after legendary performance to put Dallas on the map— the Suns still haven’t recovered from that Game 7 destruction he put on them almost three years ago. He put Dallas in places not seen since Dirk was in his prime.
That’s not replaceable. No Anthony Davis or Max Christie production will change that. No matter what happens this year or the next five, a key part of the soul of Dallas will be missing.
When someone loses a part of their soul, a part of them dies. So yeah, the trade is being mourned like a death— a massive part of the city was slain by a man in power just because he felt like it.
This is a wound that may prove to not heal with time.
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