It is only a bit more than three weeks since the trade that the basketball world shocked, when the Mavericks Luka Doncic suddenly sent to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a future concept choice. Now the Slovenian is getting ready to face his former club on Tuesday evening.
When asked how the 25-year-old star felt to play his former team, his new coaches and teammates all agreed that he seems ready and even enthusiastic to confront this exciting confrontation with the club that abruptly sent him out City where he was first set up and earned five all-NBA selections.
“I think it will be fine,” said Lakers -coach JJ Redick. “Every day he has been to us, it gets just a bit more normal. I’ve been there. The first time you play your old team, especially so close to the time, it gets weird. But he will be able to deal with it. “
Luka Doncic is cheerful for his first game versus the Mavericks pic.twitter.com/ysc942bco2
– Jordan Richard (@jordanrichardsc) February 24, 2025
After Monday’s practice in California, Luka refused to speak with the press, while he had finished training after a half-court shot after a three-point shooting exercise alongside Dorian Finney-Smith, who happens to be his former teammate at the Mavericks.
“I think he will be excited, but everyone in the dressing room is excited,” Dorian assured. “We have his back. It will be a hard -fought game. I know that (MAVS coach Jason) will have Kidd ready to come in and compete, so we just have to match their intensity. “
In his last match with the purple and gold, Doncic dropped 32 points with four of them from outside the arch, plus 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals during their Blowout 123-100 victory over the Nuggets, a team that the Lakers has dominated in in recent years.
“When he made the first 3, I thought,” Ok, he’s gone tonight, “said forward Rui Hachimura with a smile.” I don’t know how much he is 100% healthy, but he starts returning to his rhythm, So I’m happy for him. “
