Luka Doncic still waiting for ‘closure’ despite win against Mavs after shocking trade

Luka Doncic revealed that he is still dealing with the emotional aftermath of being traded after his first game against the Dallas Mavericks.

Luka Doncic still waiting for ‘closure’ despite win against Mavs after shocking trade

Luka Doncic is still dealing with the emotional aftermath of being traded

Luka Doncic was the face of the Dallas Mavericks for years, and the idea of him playing anywhere else seemed almost unthinkable. The Slovenian star was not just the franchise’s best player but also its identity for the foreseeable future. That was all gone in an instant when Mavericks GM Nico Harrison pulled the plug on a trade sending Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers out of nowhere.

The aftermath of having your entire future uprooted is certainly not an easy proposition, but it was one that Luka Doncic had to rapidly adapt to. On Tuesday night, Doncic found himself in the surreal position of playing against his former team for the first time, leading the Lakers to a 107-99 victory over the Mavericks. But the win over his former team still wasn’t enough to get the 25-year-old some closure.

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The closure is going to take a while, I think… It’s not ideal, but like I said, I’m glad this game is over. There’s a lot of emotions, but we go little by little, and every day is better.

Luka Doncic said in his postgame presser

Though the Lakers secured the win, the emotions surrounding the night were anything but straightforward. The awkwardness of the situation was summed up by Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, who described the emotions of playing against his ‘Hermanos’ as “awkward as sh*t.” Doncic, too, was visibly affected throughout the game, as it was clear that he was still processing the whirlwind of changes around him.

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For a player who had envisioned spending his entire career in Dallas, the adjustment has been far from easy. Luka Doncic’s connection to the city of Dallas, the fans, and his former teammates ran deep, and the abrupt nature of the trade left little time to process what had happened. As he continues to settle into his new role in Los Angeles, the emotional weight of leaving Dallas behind is something he will have to navigate in the coming months.

Luka Doncic reveals how he kept emotions in check during matchup against Dallas

The emotions of the night were evident early on, as Luka Doncic picked up a technical foul in the first half after voicing his frustration over a no-call. With so much riding on this game, both personally and professionally, it was clear that the emotional weight of the occasion was on Doncic’s mind. Even so, Doncic pushed through, and secured a historic triple-double while keeping himself composed.

I don’t know. They’re weird moments. I didn’t know what I was doing and I’m just glad we got a win.

Luka Doncic said

Even with the emotional weight of the matchup, the 25-year-old superstar managed to deliver a stellar performance, finishing with 19 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. He remained composed, physically and mentally, in crucial moments down the stretch of the game, particularly in the fourth quarter when he got together with LeBron James to put the Mavericks to bed.

The transition for Luka Doncic has been made somewhat easier by the Lakers’ recent success. With him in the lineup, Los Angeles has surged to 35-21, rising to the 4th seed in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Mavericks, who reached the NBA Finals with Doncic as their leader just last season, have slipped to the 8th spot in the standings.