It was a feisty start to Luka Doncic’s first game against his former team.
The former Mavericks star — and current Laker — glared over at the Dallas bench on several occasions and received a technical foul after passionately arguing with the refs in just the first quarter of Tuesday’s game in Los Angeles.
The game was sure to stir some emotions after the Mavericks stunned the basketball world and traded Doncic in a blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas at the beginning of February.
OH WOW, Luka Doncic buries a deep three-pointer and turns around to stare the Mavericks bench, I LOVE IT!!! pic.twitter.com/78pgtFyuya
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) February 26, 2025
Doncic got hit with a technical early in the game after he argued over a non-call when he went for a layup and was clearly fouled.
The refs didn’t call it, however.
The frustrated Doncic said something to an official and was then given the technical.
LUKA DONCIC HITS THE THREE OVER 2 DEFENDERS AND STARES DOWN THE MAVS BENCH pic.twitter.com/RhwzYwmePD
— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) February 26, 2025
Later in the first quarter, Doncic nailed two 3-pointers and glared over at the Dallas bench.
With a little over six minutes still on the clock, Doncic hit a deep trey ball to put the Lakers up 16-14, and as he was running back to play defense, he stared down the Mavs’ sitting along the sideline.
Mavericks, his former team, on Feb. 25, 2025 in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
He did it again a few moments later after he dropped another 3-pointer to extend the Lakers’ lead to five.
Earlier in the evening, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, in attendance at Crypto.com Arena, looked on as Doncic warmed up before the game.
A Mavs fan was filmed with a sign about loyalty as he stood right behind Harrison.
The sign read “Loyalty Never Fades Away” but the word “Never” was crossed out.
Lakers fans, on the other hand, chanted “Thank you, Nico,” during the first half when Doncic went to the foul line.
Davis received a warm welcome in his first appearance back in his old home following the trade as the Lakers played a tribute video for him in the first quarter.