VIDEO: Dallas Welcomes Luka Doncic Back to the American Airlines Center

It was a moment 67 days in the making. On Wednesday night, the Mavericks' prodigal son returned to play in front of the Dallas crowd that had claimed him as its own for seven NBA seasons. Perhaps calling Luka Doncic a prodigal son isn’t accurate. The transcendent, generational talent didn’t choose to leave town; no, he was shipped off in a shocking trade under the cover of late-night darkness.

Tonight also marks six years since the Mavs pulled out all the stops to celebrate aging team icon Dirk Nowitzki after the final home game of his illustrious career in 2019. But tonight, the team tried to find a way to thank a former star who is still in his dominant prime. On Wednesday, T-shirts emblazoned with "Hvala za vse," which is Slovenian for "thank you for everything," were laid out for every ticketholder to don. How's that for a heart-wrenching twist of franchise fate?

This isn’t the first time Doncic has faced his old teammates as a foe. The Mavericks traveled to LA to play against his new team on February 25. Doncic performed well that night in the Lakers’ victory, even if he fell short of what we’ve come to know as a classic “Luka game” where he goes off for 30-plus points and makes a bunch of unbelievable no-look passes.

It was an odd spectacle to behold, but most of us locals took it in on television. For Doncic’s return to town, the electricity that pumped through every corridor, seat and corner of the AAC as tip-off neared was more than palpable. The crowd was blanketed in Doncic No. 77 jerseys, with plenty of Dallas versions mixing with the bright yellow Lakers editions, of which there were many.


After LeBron James was introduced to the arena, it was Doncic's turn. However, the public address announcer asked the audience to watch a tribute video with many of the heroic moments that defined his time in Dallas. Tears well up in his eyes as cheers from the crowd gained power.

Then he was introduced and the crowd, predictably, went wild.

Not that it was a shock, of course. When the home team trotted out for their pre-game shoot-around, few seemed to notice. But when the Lakers jogged out, it was hard not to think it was a Los Angeles home game.

With a wave to the crowd, Doncic jogged onto the court, gave James a bear hug and huddled with his new team.

And just like that, as if this were somehow just another professional basketball game, the ref tossed the ball up in the air for tip-off, and away Doncic and the other starting players went. Sixty-seven days after Dallas blew up its team, a game still needed to be played.