Dallas Mavericks Los Angeles Lakers Luka Dončić NBA

Luka Dončić Admits Dallas Will ‘Always Feel Like Home’ Before Second Road Game Against Mavericks

Nitish SinghJanuary 24, 2026January 24, 2026

Luka Dončić shoots the ball for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

For Luka Dončić, time has passed, contracts have been signed, and a new chapter has firmly taken shape with the Los Angeles Lakers. Still, some connections do not fade easily. As Dončić prepares to return to Dallas this weekend, the weight of what came before remains unmistakable. It will mark his second road game against the Dallas Mavericks since the blockbuster trade that reshaped both franchises, but the emotions tied to the building and the fan base have not diminished.

Following the Lakers’ recent loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Dončić spoke candidly about what it means to step back into American Airlines Center, now wearing purple and gold.

“Obviously, always going to feel like home there,” Dončić said. “Like I said, I needed that game [last year] to move on a little bit. But obviously, I’ll always appreciate those fans. They were really tight. I think we had a special bond. I really appreciate it all the time.”

That bond was on full display on April 9, 2025, when Dončić played his first game in Dallas as a member of the Lakers. The night began with an emotional tribute video that left him in tears on the bench, a moment that underscored how deeply his seven seasons with the franchise still resonated inside the arena.

Once the ball tipped, however, sentiment gave way to competition. Dončić delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career, pouring in 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including seven 3-pointers, while adding eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals. The Lakers pulled away for a 112–97 win, a result that helped clinch their playoff spot and quickly entered the conversation as one of the league’s most iconic “revenge games.”

The reception only added to the moment. Dončić was greeted with a prolonged ovation during introductions, and throughout the night, cheers for him often rivaled — and at times surpassed — those for the home team, reflecting the enduring connection between player and city.

Dallas Is No Longer the Same Without Luka Dončić

Now, the circumstances feel different, not just for Dončić, but for Dallas itself — and the standings reflect that reality.

The Lakers enter the matchup fifth in the Western Conference at 26–17, positioned firmly in the playoff picture behind only Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver, and Houston. Despite some inconsistency, Los Angeles has remained competitive, hovering near the top half of the conference with Dončić as its clear focal point.

Dallas, meanwhile, sits outside the top 10 in the West at 19–26, trailing teams such as the Trail Blazers, Clipper,s and Grizzlies in the play-in race. What began as optimism following the trade has unraveled into a season defined by injuries, instability, and missed opportunity.

Anthony Davis, acquired as the centerpiece of the return for Dončić, has struggled to stay on the floor. A series of injuries — including an adductor strain, calf issues and ligament damage in his left hand — have kept him sidelined for long stretches and stalled any sense of continuity.

Without Davis, the Mavericks slipped in the standings and into organizational uncertainty. Former general manager Nico Harrison was dismissed in November, leaving the franchise in a holding pattern as interim leadership fields trade calls and ownership evaluates its long-term direction. With the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaching, moving Davis’ contract has proven difficult, particularly with his health once again in question.

A Different Return, Same Competitive Fire

For Dončić, the return no longer centers on closure. That process began — and in many ways concluded — during his first visit last April. Since then, he has secured his future in Los Angeles and embraced his role as the Lakers’ long-term centerpiece.

The competitive edge, however, has not softened. Dončić has averaged 33.0 points, 9.7 assists and 9.3 rebounds in three career games against Dallas, including a 35-point, 11-assist outing earlier this season in Los Angeles. Each matchup has reinforced the same truth: familiarity has only sharpened his focus.

On Saturday, Mavericks fans are again expected to greet him warmly. With Harrison no longer in the picture, there should be little lingering bitterness inside the building. What follows, as always with Dončić, will be business — played with memory, intensity, and unmistakable fire in a place that, by his own admission, will always feel like home.