Dallas Mavericks fans are living every team’s worst nightmare — watching their former superstar shine brighter than ever, only this time for someone else.
Luka Doncic, once the pride of Dallas, is now the face of the Los Angeles Lakers’ early-season surge. On Friday night, he lit up the Memphis Grizzlies for 44 points and 12 rebounds, powering the Lakers to a hard-fought 117–112 win.
It’s not just another scoring outburst — it’s history in the making.
> “Luka Doncic joins Wilt Chamberlain (2x) as the only players in NBA history to start a season with three straight 40+ point games,” NBA History posted on X (formerly Twitter).
That stat hit Mavericks fans like a punch to the gut.
> “I am dead inside,” wrote the All Things Mavs account in response.
And who can blame them? Luka looks happier than ever in Los Angeles — smiling, celebrating, and thriving in the spotlight alongside LeBron James. It’s a sight that’s both inspiring and excruciating for the fanbase that once adored him.
> “I hate this for him, but Cooper Flagg is going to have to be very good to make Mavs fans forget the trade every night Luka plays basketball,” Mavs Film Room posted.
Mavericks Fans Still Can’t Get Over the Trade
Doncic’s dominance isn’t easing any pain in Dallas. After all, he’s averaging 45 points per game on a ridiculous 58% shooting through his first three appearances this season. Meanwhile, the Mavericks — now 2–3 — look lost without their former cornerstone.
When Dallas traded Doncic to the Lakers last year for Anthony Davis and other pieces, it sparked outrage across Texas. Protests erupted outside American Airlines Center. Even now, fans haven’t forgiven the front office.
And it doesn’t help that Davis is already battling injuries again — missing multiple games due to a calf strain — while Doncic is breaking records and smiling his way through L.A.’s hot start.
> “I feel great. But obviously after we get a win, I feel even better,” Doncic told NBA.com after Friday’s game. “That’s the whole point.”
For Mavs fans, that quote stings. The “whole point” feels like it’s happening 1,200 miles away — in Los Angeles.
Pain in Dallas, Glory in L.A.
While rookie Cooper Flagg shows flashes of promise, the shadow of Doncic looms large. Every 40-point Lakers performance is another reminder of what Dallas let slip away.
Unless the Mavericks can find new life soon, Luka Doncic’s rise in Los Angeles may go down as one of the most painful “what ifs” in franchise history.
From Dallas hero to Lakers legend — Luka’s revenge tour has only just begun.
