April 9th, 2025. Dallas, Texas. Luka Doncic walked into the American Airlines Center as a visitor for the first time in his NBA career… and promptly put on an emotional, cinematic, 45-point masterpiece that had everyone wondering if this man was playing with cheat codes. But what caught fans off guard more than the scoreboard was Luka’s adorably unfiltered post-game confession — where the biggest relief of the night wasn’t about revenge, stats, or playoffs.

It was… umm, his bed. Yup!

Forget playoff implications. Forget the tribute video. Luka Doncic’s biggest win on April 9? Getting to sprawl out in his own bed.

“First of all, I could sleep in my bed,” Luka said with a straight face when asked about the best part of coming back to Dallas. “But then, just to be back with the fans that I spent six and a half years with, you know, supporting me like that, was just unbelievable to me.”

And just like that, Luka reminded everyone that behind the 45 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists is a guy who really just missed his mattress.

But this night wasn’t all laughs. The moment he saw the tribute video the Mavericks played in his honor, Luka nearly broke down. “I don’t know how I did it,” he said. “Because when I was watching that video, I was like, ‘There’s no way I’m playing this game.’” But his new Lakers teammates rallied around him, and the emotion clearly fueled his performance.

Los Angeles pulled away in the fourth quarter thanks to a vintage LeBron takeover, but make no mistake: This was Luka’s night. Still, the emotional rollercoaster started long before tip-off. When asked what he felt walking through the arena again, Luka admitted, “It was a little bit of both — happy and angry… it was a lot of emotions when I woke up. I didn’t sleep much. Excited about this game.”

So he was tired, emotional, homesick… and still dropped 45? Legend behavior!

JJ Redick stays “disappointed” as Luka Doncic dashed his hopes

While fans were busy wiping away tears, JJ Redick — the king of dry humor — chimed in with the best side commentary of the night. “I thought he was gonna drop 50,” Redick said on-air, completely deadpan. “I’m disappointed.”

Hey, when you torch your old team for 45 in your sleep-deprived revenge arc, it’s only fair that your teammate sets the bar even higher! But jokes aside, Redick knows greatness when he sees it — and Luka’s performance was nothing short of a statement. Even Jason Kidd couldn’t ignore the magnitude, comparing Luka’s trade to the Babe Ruth deal.

Yes, that Babe Ruth.

Luka Doncic came back to Dallas with jet fuel in his sneakers, tears in his eyes, and a deep love for a fanbase that clearly still adores him. His performance sealed a top-six seed for the Lakers and reminded everyone that the NBA isn’t just about trades and drama — it’s about stories.

From Mark Cuban watching in silence to the chants of “Fire Nico” echoing through the arena, to Luka finding peace in a good night’s sleep — this game had it all. Luka left with 45 points, a win, and most importantly, a solid eight hours in his bed. And honestly? That’s the dream. (Yeah, you read it right; pun absolutely intended!)