“Hvala za vse”, Slovenian for “Thank you for everything”, read every T-shirt draped over the 20,000 seats at the American Airlines Center as Luka Doncic returned to Texas for the first time in two months. After a blockbuster (read: unexpected) trade had left the young player with a new home some 1,200 miles away, what he didn’t expect was the uncontrollable emotions that would resurface when returning to the place he called home for seven seasons. Sitting courtside, Doncic struggled to look up—for every time he did, tears would well up in his eyes. It was not sadness. It was not pain. It was the nostalgia of smelling the same air, sitting on the same seats, seeing the same excitement among fans, while the jumbotron played a beautifully assembled collage of memories. But what nobody expected was how that massive screen would ultimately steal the former Mavericks’ thunder a little while later…

The controversial moment started unfolding merely four seconds after the Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks game started. As LeBron James stood at the free throw line after being fouled on his way to the basket, thousands of spectators broke in a “Fire Nico!” chant in unison—a clear message to the GM for trading Doncic. Unfortunately, that was just one of the instances when fans made their feelings known. While the chant died down as the play resumed, they erupted again as the Lakers were at the free throw line. Things got so uncontrollable that the Mavericks were even forced to reinforce some rules, as quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Mark Cuban watched in awe (which we’ll talk about later).

During the next free throws, the jumbotron started displaying the NBA-mandated Fan Code of Conduct. “Disruptive behavior is unacceptable,” the first point read, while the next ones said, “All fans must comply with health and safety protocols”, “Violations are subject to ejection and/or arrest”, and “Report any violations to your nearest AAC usher, security, or guest services staff member”. Notably, this comes just two months after a similar incident wreaked havoc during a Dallas Mavericks vs Sacramento Kings game.

On that occasion, fans had similarly chanted “Fire Nico!” and some had even started displaying a poster with the same message. One spectator was even seen mouthing the firing call to the camera before it quickly panned out. At one point, Mavericks’ minority owner Mark Cuban was also loudly booed as he returned to his courtside seat with 2:56 remaining in the third quarter. The overall result? Multiple fans being ejected during the second half, and the Mavericks hardly earning any favors from the community.

“In the first incident, the guest brought in a sign that broke the following rule included in the NBA Code of Conduct: Clothing, garments or signs displaying explicit language, profanity or derogatory characterization towards any person(s),” Mavericks vice president of corporate communications Erin Finegold has later said talking about the ousted fans. What’s more?

Before a game vs the Houston Rockets on February 8, over 1,000 people had protested outside the American Airlines Center with the same slogans. During another game, a clearly ticked-off Cuban had to step in, yelling, “Shut the f— up and sit the f— down!” 

Team guard Klay Thompson had later commented, “It’s not our job to get deflated because people are upset. Our job is to convince them that there’s really great days ahead, not just for this year but for the next few years. I mean, people are going to say stuff, and that’s understandable. I was a fan, still a fan. If I didn’t agree with a trade, I’d probably voice my opinion too. That’s the beauty of sports. You go there to yell and be rambunctious sometimes.”

Yet, amid the continued community hate, this time, the Dallas Mavericks front office was clear: “We know you’re mad. But keep it in check.” The timing, the setting, the silence—it all made it feel like a courtroom, not a celebration. Certainly not a good day for Mahomes to be in attendance, is it?

Luka’s tears, Cuban’s regret, and Mahomes watching it all unfold

While the jumbotron tried to keep emotions in check, the court told a different story — a raw, unscripted one. As the tribute video rolled, Luka Doncic sat on the bench, head down, eyes red. He cried. Not just watery-eyed — but visibly emotional. His former city stood to applaud him, even as they hated the jersey he was wearing. And across the court, in the front row? Mark Cuban.

This wasn’t just some billionaire watching a game. This was the man who had once staked his entire brand on Luka. The man who didn’t want this trade to happen. When asked about it weeks earlier, Cuban didn’t mince words: “I didn’t agree with it.” “Wouldn’t have happened if I were still the owner.” He looked… broken. Like a parent watching a kid move out before they’re ready.

Sitting right next to him? Patrick Mahomes—a die-hard Mavericks fan, a face of Dallas sports royalty, and someone who knew this was bigger than basketball. You could see it on his face as he sat beside his wife Brittany Mahomes. Silence. Disbelief. Respect.

While the tribute shirts said “Hvala za vse”, even those came with limitations. League rules prevented the team from using Luka’s name or number on them. Everything about the night screamed love. Except for the things the team was allowed to say out loud.

And maybe that’s why Luka’s tears hurt so much. Because deep down, this was never supposed to happen. Not like this. When you trade away your franchise’s soul, there’s no clean goodbye. There’s only damage control. The Mavericks tried to honor Luka. The fans tried to grieve. And in the middle of it all, a giant jumbotron told everyone how to behave—as if you can control heartbreak with a policy slide.

But the truth is: Luka Doncic didn’t just return to Dallas. He returned to show what the city lost. And for a few quiet, emotional seconds—even the rulebook couldn’t look away.