Not everyone gets a chance at payback, but Luka Doncic does—and you better believe he’ll make the most of it. The long-awaited showdown between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers is finally here. And there’s one question hanging over the game: Will Doncic get his revenge on the team that blindsided him?

It’s no secret that the Mavs’ decision to trade Luka came as a shock for him too. Imagine dedicating years to a franchise, only to find out you’ve been shipped off without a heads-up. That stings. And if there’s one thing we know about great players, it’s that they don’t forget. So, can Luka use this moment to remind Dallas what they lost? Shaquille O’Neal certainly thinks so.

“This guy didn’t know he was being traded at all… So I’m sure he’s pissed off. And you know, a guy that’s pissed off, you know, usually wants to show the other organization you made a mistake,” O’Neal said.

But just how big of a performance does Shaq expect? Well, he’s not predicting anything out of the ordinary—just classic Luka Doncic dominance. “I expect him to go off. Maybe 30,” he said confidently on NBA on TNT. “I don’t expect him to go crazy. Just a light little 30.”

Yes, Doncic had been struggling to find his rhythm ever since landing with the Lakers but he found his pace with the last game against the Denver Nuggets. In the first quarter itself, he displayed exceptional skills the Lakers fans had been waiting for as he scored 16 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and dished out 3 assists.

Luka eventually ended the night with 32 points—his best scoring performance since joining the Lakers. And now that he’s facing the Mavericks, his motivation to perform will be on a different level altogether. But what do others from the Lakers think of this matchup?

Lakers HC JJ Redick reveals his opinion of Luka Doncic in Lakers vs Mavs

The stage is set for a dramatic showdown at Crypto.com Arena, where Doncic will face his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, in what promises to be a must-watch game. And ahead of the highly anticipated matchup, Lakers head coach JJ Redick had a few words about what he expects from his new superstar.

“I think with him he’s at his best when he has that balance of joy and playfulness and that killer mentality. Just perfectly living in the moment of competition,” Redick told reporters before the Mavericks game (h/t Joey Mistretta of ClutchPoints).

Now, if there’s one thing that could fuel Luka Doncic even more, it’s the way things ended in Dallas. The trade didn’t just send him packing—it came with whispers about his weight, competitive focus, and defensive effort. You can bet he hasn’t forgotten. Something that even Shaquille O’Neal seemed to believe in his appearance on NBA on TNT.