Dallas Mavericks Los Angeles Lakers Luka Dončić NBA

Luka Dončić Unsure If He’ll Face Mavericks, But Admits He’ll ‘Always Feel Something’ Playing Dallas

Grant AfsethOctober 15, 2025October 15, 2025no comment

Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, NBA

Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images

When the NBA scheduled a preseason matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas, it presented the possibility of another emotional meeting between Luka Dončić and the team where his NBA journey began.

Whether that reunion will actually happen remains uncertain. The Lakers are being cautious with Dončić’s workload after his summer run with Slovenia in EuroBasket, and head coach JJ Redick has not yet confirmed if the superstar guard will play on the second night of a back-to-back. The team has emphasized his health over preseason minutes as they prepare for opening night.

Even with his status unclear, Dončić made it clear that facing Dallas will never feel routine.

“I’ll always feel something when I play against Dallas,” Dončić said after his preseason debut Tuesday in Phoenix. “That’s the team that drafted me, the city where I grew up as a player, and a lot of people there mean a lot to me. Those memories don’t go away.”

Luka Dončić’s History Against the Dallas Mavericks

Since being traded to Los Angeles ahead of the 2024–25 season, Dončić has faced the Mavericks twice, and both matchups captured attention across the league.

In his first meeting on Feb. 25, 2025, Dončić led the Lakers to a 107–99 home win with a triple-double performance of 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists. Despite the tension surrounding the blockbuster deal that ended his time in Dallas, he was warmly greeted by several of his former teammates and staff after the game.

When the Lakers visited Dallas on April 9, 2025, Dončić delivered one of his most memorable performances of the season, scoring 45 points on seven made three-pointers while adding eight rebounds. The Lakers won 112–97 behind his scoring burst and LeBron James’ 27 points, completing a season sweep over his old team. The night carried a mix of applause and boos from the American Airlines Center crowd as Dončić walked off the floor with a grin.

Luka Dončić Sharp in Preseason Debut

Dončić didn’t disappoint in his first appearance of the 2025 preseason, posting 25 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in just 22 minutes during Tuesday’s 113–104 loss to the Phoenix Suns. He shot 7-of-15 from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point range, and the Lakers outscored the Suns by 11 points during his time on the floor.

“I feel great,” Dončić said. “It was probably better than I expected. Those first games are kind of rusty, but I was just very happy to be out there again.”

Fans and teammates praised Dončić’s effort, noting how natural he looked alongside newcomers Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton. The Lakers’ revamped roster is still developing chemistry, but Dončić said the bond has formed quickly.

“I mean, both were great,” Dončić said. “Obviously, it’s preseason, we’re just getting started, but they were both great. D is getting his rhythm. It was Marcus’ first game back, so you kind of expect a little rust, but I’m just happy to share the court with those guys.”

He also emphasized the value of organic chemistry within a new group, noting that genuine connection can’t be forced, especially on a roster with several new faces adjusting to a different system and expectations.

“This year, for my part, wasn’t intentional,” Dončić said. “It just kind of happened. Those things—if you want to build them—you can’t force it. We’ve been having a good preseason. The chemistry is great, and for us to be great, we need to have that.”

Dallas Mavericks Focus on Conditioning, Chemistry in Final Tune-Up

While Dončić’s participation is uncertain, the Mavericks are approaching the contest as a full tune-up before opening night. Head coach Jason Kidd said Tuesday that he plans to extend his starters’ minutes into the fourth quarter to simulate a regular-season rotation.

“Everybody’s minutes will go up tomorrow,” Kidd said. “Going into this being our last preseason game, we’ll try to get those guys extended minutes. Things were going well for AD, and we were looking to maybe get him into the fourth. Tomorrow, we’ll probably get everyone trending toward that fourth quarter.”

Anthony Davis, who leads Dallas in preseason scoring (14.7 points per game) and blocks (5.7), continues to anchor the lineup alongside Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II. Kidd praised how effective Davis looked in his last outing when used at center.

“That first group was really good on both sides of the ball,” Kidd said. “The pace was good, and defensively, to have a rating of 99 was really good. That means those guys were playing at a high level. AD at the five was a nice look—we hadn’t really looked at that yet. It looked promising. The four guys around him also looked good, so there’s a lot of different ways we can go.”

Kidd also confirmed that Dereck Lively II’s limited minutes in Monday’s win over Utah — just eight minutes — were intentional.

“Yeah, everything is scripted,” Kidd said. “Lively had an eight-minute script with that first group to see him in that rotation. He did great. So yes, that was the plan to limit him yesterday.”

The Mavericks have continued to deal with injuries throughout training camp. Kidd said Danté Exum, Daniel Gafford, and Kyrie Irving all sat out of Tuesday’s practice, but Caleb Martin and Brandon Williams were full participants.

“Yeah, improving,” Kidd said of the team’s overall health. “Caleb went through practice today. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow and then we’ll make that call, but I thought he did a good job for his first day back.”

Anthony Davis: ‘Energy Is High’ as Season Nears

Davis echoed his coach’s optimism about the team’s readiness heading into the final week of preseason, describing the group’s mindset as focused and competitive. He said the Mavericks have been intentional about establishing the right habits on both ends of the floor, with every practice serving as a chance to refine execution within Jay Triano’s new offensive system and solidify defensive communication.

“The vibe is good. Energy is high,” Davis said. “We’re continuously working and getting better each and every day.”

He pointed to defense and pace as the team’s primary areas of emphasis before opening night, noting that Dallas still has room to tighten its discipline and conditioning as they adapt to a faster tempo. Davis emphasized the importance of avoiding unnecessary fouls, improving closeouts, and learning to sustain energy through extended possessions.

“Defensively, there are still some things we’ve got to clean up,” Davis said. “We’ve been fouling jump shooters too much—that’s something we don’t want to do. We’re still working through our schemes since they’re new for most guys. Offensively, Jay Triano’s system is new for all of us, so we’re still figuring out the kinks. But we’re moving the ball, sharing it, and I think we can be really good on both ends with the weapons we have.”

The 10-time All-Star also complimented rookie Cooper Flagg, who has stepped into an unconventional point-guard role during the preseason while D’Angelo Russell remains sidelined. Davis praised Flagg’s poise, decision-making, and defensive versatility, highlighting how the 18-year-old has adapted to leading offensive sets against NBA-level competition.

“He’s been really good,” Davis said. “He’s making great plays on both ends. He can handle the basketball, and with D’Angelo out, we wanted to let him run some point. He did a great job making reads. He’s definitely been a standout for us this preseason.”

More Than Just Another Game

Whether or not Dončić takes the floor, Wednesday’s matchup carries an emotional backdrop that goes beyond the preseason. For Dončić, who spent six seasons in Dallas and became one of the most celebrated players in franchise history, the connection remains deeply personal.

“I had so many great moments there,” Dončić said. “It’s always going to be special.”

The Mavericks and Lakers won’t have to wait long for a regular-season rematch. Dallas will travel to Los Angeles on Nov. 28, before Dončić makes his first regular-season return to Dallas on Jan. 24 and again on April 5.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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