The Los Angeles Lakers knew how to make Luka Doncic’s debut a memorable occasion. It indicated they wanted to cement their superstar for the future. Every seat had a number 77 jersey. Each time the five-time All-NBA guard attempted a shot, the crowd went wild. The Purple and Gold brought in Doncic seeing him as the generational star that thrusts them into a winning zone. However, it wasn’t just a move for on-court success. It kept alive the culture that is prevalent in LA. In sharp contrast, the disappointed voices from Dallas are yet to stop, from Mark Cuban to fans, all singing the same song.

The Lakers kept the star culture alive, solidifying their era after LeBron James. According to Dan Byers, that’s the plot the Dallas Mavericks missed. “They just loved cheering for Luka Doncic. They loved it that Luka Doncic was theirs whether he was in shape or not in shape,” Byers said about the Mavericks’ frustrations.

Those sentiments got lost in the matters of business for the Mavericks. Harrison and the front office felt dealing with Anthony Davis set them up for a championship. However, what they lost was a homegrown rookie who astonished the basketball world. In the private dealings, Rob Pelinka and the Lakers saw the future. “We have a 25-year-old global superstar that’s going to get on the stage of the most popular, influential basketball brand on the globe,” the Lakers GM said about Doncic. The Mavericks, though, saw Doncic’s struggles with staying healthy as a credible reason to deal with him.

“That’s where just like Dallas and the Mavericks and the ownership group and Nico Harrison are just missing the big picture. And somehow the Lakers not only is it fallen into their lap but they’re doing all the right things now. They’re walking aboard the whole deal. To me it was never about basketball, it was about the city it was about the fans and the fans’ love of that organization,” Byers claimed on the Doug Gottlieb Show.

It has left the Mavericks fanbase torn apart. The aftermath of the trade is beginning to damage the reputation of the franchise. And it’s getting beyond control. Even Mark Cuban, a once beloved owner of the franchise, is generating hate for his slandering the fans at the American Airlines Center.

Luka Doncic trade has angered fans

The circuit went on fire when the Mavericks announced they were trading away the franchise starboy. The fans held protests, even funerals, to signal the end of his time in Texas. Then in both the home games since, fans have lashed out. Notably, a pair of the audience were ejected for shouting ‘Fire Nico’ on the jumbotron.

By the time overtime began during their thriller against the Sacramento Kings, half the seats in the stand were empty. The primary reason behind the anger is their parting ways with Luka Doncic. However, the deal itself irked the Mavericks’ loyal fans. Gottlieb spoke about this mistake. “For Luka Doncic that’s a sellers market” he claims. If put up for sale, several teams would have given the Mavericks a lot more in return. Instead, to keep the exchange secure, the Mavericks accepted Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick.

Gottlieb feels that’s where they made the mistake as opposed to what the Pelicans did with the Lakers. “They wouldn’t do the deal why because they wanted the kitchen sink everything that the Lakers had. And the Lakers acquiesced in the offseason and traded for Anthony Davis,” he explained on the show.

Now after an explosive debut, Davis has suffered a long-term injury that severely derails the Mavericks’ hopes for a championship. Christie has fit in seamlessly. However, without a Doncic-like player, they are at a loss for firepower. As for the Lakers, they just made a move to sign Alex Len, a stretch center who can serve as the lob threat the Slovenian benefits from after the Mark Williams trade fell through.

With the way the trade has played out, it looks like the Lakers have come up on the victorious side. But it’s still too early to ascertain how well the dynamic between Luka Doncic and the franchise works.