The Mavericks are hosting Dončić and the Lakers for the first time since the stunning trade, giving Dallas fans their first chance to see their franchise's former star player back at American Airlines Center. Dončić squared off with his former team in February in L.A., posting a 19-point triple-double in a Lakers win.

Players on both the Mavericks and Lakers recognized the importance of the moment for Doncic, who moved to the United States as a teenager and grew up in Dallas. Anthony Davis even noted that Dallas "still loves him," which underlines the connection Doncic still has with the Dallas community.

Luka Dončić will return to Dallas in a Lakers jersey Wednesday night to face the Mavericks for the first time since the stunning trade.

Luka Doncic entered the court with the Los Angeles Lakers for his first game back in Dallas to cheers in an arena where draped over every seat was a T-shirt with the Slovenian phrase for thank you for

Following the Los Angeles Lakers' 112-97 road win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, Luka Dončić shared an on-court embrace with Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes,

After the Dončić trade went down, it became clear that Cuban didn't hold the same power he had wielded for two decades in Dallas.