Luka Doncic walked into the American Airlines Center once again—but not as the home crowd’s hero. This time, he was headed toward the visitor’s locker room, wearing purple and gold. Just over two months ago, the Mavericks pulled off a shocking trade that sent their franchise centerpiece to the Lakers. But Dallas didn’t let the night start without a tribute.

Before tip-off, a video rolled on the jumbotron—highlighting Luka’s best moments in a Mavs jersey. From that unforgettable 2018 draft night to his dagger threes in the playoffs, it was all there. And man, watching him during the montage? You could see it hit him. His face tightened. Eyes glossy. It felt like he was doing everything he could to stay composed.

And while the home crowd was caught up in nostalgia, his new team stayed locked in on the moment. During the broadcast, a message came straight from the Lakers‘ side of the tunnel:

“Yeah, Billy. Look. I asked you what the approach here with your name considering everything, all of the emotion in the building that you just saw in that video. And he said, well, it’s pretty simple. We’ve got your back. That’s what the Lakers wanna show Luka. He is a Laker now. He’s wearing. They have his back, of course, full support, and they’re gonna show him that on this board and what’s certainly an emotional evening for him.”

So yeah, it was emotional. Not just for Luka, but for anyone who watched him grow up in that building. The jersey may have changed, but the memories didn’t. But while the crowd showed love to their former star, that same energy didn’t extend to the man who sent him packing. Mavericks GM Nico Harrison was in the building, and fans didn’t hold back.

Harrison made his way to the American Airlines Center for Doncic’s emotional homecoming—but let’s be real, the vibes were icy. As players hit the floor for warmups, fans caught sight of the Mavericks GM hanging around courtside and in the tunnel.

The crowd let it rip. Loud “Fire Nico” chants rained down from the stands while Harrison stood near the tunnel as the game went on. And this isn’t the first time this has happened. After Dallas dropped a heartbreaker in overtime to the Kings back on February 11, a fan showed up with a navy Mavericks hat with a piece of duct tape covering the logo. Scribbled across the tape in big, bold letters? “FIRE NICO.”. Security ended up tossing him—and a few others—for breaking the NBA’s code of conduct with the same chant you heard today.

And while the fanbase continues to voice its frustration, Luka has quietly found his own way to hit back.

Luka Doncic makes a move which hurts the Mavs

Luka Doncic might say he’s put Dallas behind him, but if you’re paying attention, his moves tell a whole different story.

Right before the Mavs hosted the Lakers, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon dropped a bomb. He reported that Dallas had lined up some serious sponsorship deals for the game—most of them involving brands Luka actively endorses. But here’s the twist: Luka’s camp shut it all down.

“Team sources told ESPN that the Mavs had also lined up lucrative sponsorship deals for Wednesday’s game, with multiple companies that Doncic endorses, but those deals fell apart after Doncic’s camp declined to give its blessing, pointedly noting that he now plays for the Lakers,” McMahon said.

That line? “He now plays for the Lakers”? Yeah, that wasn’t just a legal clarification. That was a message. Luka didn’t just turn down the deals—he made sure Dallas didn’t profit off his name or legacy. That’s not a passive move. That’s a pointed reminder of where he stands.

And here’s the kicker—it’s gonna cost the Mavericks big time. Like, nine figures big. McMahon reports that the financial damage from those blocked deals could hit the franchise hard. Let that sink in. Just months ago, Luka was dragging this team to the Finals. He was the guy—jerseys, ads, highlight reels, everything. And yet, they shipped him out like none of that mattered.

So, no, he doesn’t need to trash Dallas in interviews. The message is already clear. Luka hasn’t let it go—and frankly, can you blame him?