“Luka, its good to have you f—— back!” JJ Redick was ecstatic to finally see the “Killer” side of Luka Doncic on Saturday after he struggled to perform well in his first three appearances for the Lakers. Showing why he is still one of the most lethal scorers out there. Doncic dropped a 32-point double-double in a win against the Nuggets and silenced the critics. Now, he is up for an even bigger test tomorrow night as he faces his former team, the Mavs, for the first time since the shocking trade. Fortunately, his teammate, Dorian Finney-Smith has complete faith in the Slovenian sensation regardless of the high stakes.

DFS knows tomorrow’s showdown against the Mavs isn’t just another game. “We wanna get this win just like any other game, but we know there’s gonna be a lot of emotions in the air because of whatever thing that’s happened,” he admitted. And if it hasn’t hit Luka yet, it definitely will when he steps onto the court and faces his former teammates in what promises to be a tense, can’t-miss reunion.

Still, Smith has no doubt Luka will keep his emotions in check. “I think he’s gonna be excited. But everybody in the locker room is excited. We got his back,” he said. As for himself, the 31-year-old is locked in, sending a clear message to the Lakers about the battle ahead. “We’re just trying to go out there and get the win… It’s gonna be a hard-fought game. I know J Kidd’s gonna have them ready to compete, so we just gotta match the intensity.”

With so much on the line, both sides have something to prove—because at the end of the night, only one team will get the last laugh on the trade.

For Nico Harrison and the Mavs, a win tomorrow would be proof that they made the right call in moving on from Luka. On the other side, Doncic will be fueled by revenge, eager to make the franchise that once saw him as a lifer regret their decision.

Simply put—it’s must-see TV. And Smith isn’t the only Laker betting on Luka to make a statement.

JJ Redick and Rui Hachimura trust Luka Doncic to Overcome the “Weird” Mavs challenge

While Dorian put the locker room on high alert, JJ Redick claims Luka has become more used to being a Laker than many believe, “I think he’ll be fine. Every day that he’s been with us, it’s becoming just a little bit more normal.” We all saw how happy Doncic was after he finally overcame his struggles on Saturday and played like the superstar everyone expects him to be. He even acknowledged it post-game, “Just felt like me a little bit, so I was happy.”

Moreover, JJ knows exactly what Luka will be going through when he faces the Mavs for the first time tomorrow, “I’ve been there. Like the first time you play your old team, particularly this close in time duration, it’s gonna be weird. But he’ll be able to handle it.” Even Hachimura is looking forward to suiting up for the highly-anticipated encounter, “I think he got his rhythm back you know little bit. So, I’m excited for him tomorrow against his ex-home team. It’s gonna be a good one and yeah, it’s gonna be fun.”

Fortunately for Luka, he’ll have the full support of Laker Nation behind him, with the game set to take place at Crypto.com Arena. The fans will be hoping for another dose of Luka Magic—a signature performance that not only secures a win but also gives him the closure he needs from the Mavs’ betrayal.

So, the big question remains—will Luka get his revenge or crack under the pressure?