Mavericks disrespect Lakers star Luka Doncic months after blockbuster trade

The Dallas Mavericks were in a disrespectful mood before the start of the 2025 NBA draft. 

The organization surprisingly elected to post a pre-draft hype video on X/Twitter that didn’t include Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic.

Although the Mavericks didn’t draft Doncic in 2018, they traded for the 26-year-old pro after the Atlanta Hawks selected him with the No. 3 overall pick on draft night.

Doncic gave everything he had to the Dallas Mavericks for 5.5 seasons. 

The five-time All-Star helped turn the Mavericks into a competitive franchise after Dirk Nowitzki's retirement. Dallas reached the postseason four times, with Doncic leading the charge, making a memorable run to the NBA finals in 2024. 

Still, the Mavericks decided to pull the plug on the Doncic experiment in early February via a blockbuster trade to the Lakers. 

Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

It didn’t take long for the 6-foot-6 guard to become a fan favorite in Los Angeles.

From complementing LeBron James’ game shortly after the midseason deal to flaunting his clutch gene to help the Lakers close out tight contests, Doncic flourished during the second portion of the season. 

With Doncic, Los Angeles lived up to regular-season expectations, reaching the 50-win mark and grabbing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference before falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the postseason. 

The former lottery pick recorded 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game with the Lake Show, connecting on 43.8% of his field goals and 37.9% of his three-point jumpers. 

While it’s unfair for the Mavericks to pretend like Doncic never competed with the organization, there’s no question that the former EuroLeague phenom is in a healthier environment in Los Angeles.

More NBA: Former Lakers NBA champion star predicted to ditch Mavericks' Cooper Flagg after NBA Draft