The Dallas Mavericks will face their former franchise cornerstone in one of the most anticipated preseason games of the fall.
On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers announced a four-game preseason slate that includes an Oct. 15 matchup against the Mavericks at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The neutral-site game will mark Dallas’ first meeting against Luka Dončić since his dramatic return to American Airlines Center in April — and may also serve as the debut for the Mavericks’ expected No. 1 overall pick, Duke forward Cooper Flagg.
The Mavericks have not released their full preseason schedule, but the Vegas matchup signals another possible trip west, following Dallas’ opening of training camp at UNLV last year. The team spent the first week of its 2024–25 season in Las Vegas before returning to Dallas for preseason play.
Dončić, who was traded to the Lakers on February 1 in a blockbuster deal for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick, is 2-0 against his former team since the trade. He scored 45 points in his return to Dallas on April 9 in what became one of the most emotionally charged games of the Mavericks’ season. The Lakers also defeated the Mavericks in Los Angeles on February 25.
For the Mavericks, the upcoming meeting is another step in reshaping their identity. The franchise missed the playoffs in 2025, then won the NBA Draft Lottery for the first time in 41 years. With a new front office structure and a top prospect on the way, Dallas enters the 2025–26 campaign with a blend of pressure and promise.
Team governor Patrick Dumont and owner Miriam Adelson, who purchased a majority stake in the franchise in December 2023, have pushed forward plans for a new arena in Dallas. Despite holding training camp in Las Vegas and now playing a preseason game there, team officials have reaffirmed their commitment to staying in North Texas. The initial portion of training camp will likely be held in Vegas again.
The Oct. 15 matchup is expected to draw widespread attention given the emotional weight of Dončić’s departure and the potential debut of Flagg, who has drawn comparisons to franchise-changers even before being drafted.
The Mavericks have not yet publicly released their preseason schedule. However, tickets for the Las Vegas preseason game will go on sale June 6.
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