Lakers star Luka Doncic’s first matchup against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, drew 2.5 million average viewers across TNT, truTV, and Max, peaking at 2.9 million, per Bleacher Report. It marked the NBA’s most-watched regular-season cable broadcast of the 2024-25 season outside of opening night.
Doncic recorded a 19-point, 15-rebound, 12-assist triple-double in the Lakers’ 107-99 victory, but the game also highlighted his bond with former teammate Kyrie Irving. The two shared nearly two seasons in Dallas, and their first meeting as opponents carried emotional weight.
“I don’t think he expected the change and I think that’s probably what leads to him feeling his emotions even more so in a deeper way,” Irving said. “Rejection, I think that’s a strong word … but sometimes it can feel like that… Everybody expects you to turn over the next page and get over it. The reality is, man, we’re human too.”
Luka Doncic x Kyrie Irving
— Her Şey NBA (@herseynba) February 26, 2025
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Irving, who led all scorers with 35 points on 12-for-27 shooting, adding seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks, acknowledged the bittersweet nature of facing Doncic:
“Seeing the crowd cheer for him and just get him going and see him make some of the tough shots that I’ve seen him make thousands of times,” Irving said. “That probably made it even more awkward. But it was fun. It was fun competing.”
Doncic echoed the sentiment, emphasizing their connection beyond basketball:
“Kai is my hermano (brother),” Doncic said. “We go way beyond basketball. So, it was good to see those guys. Like I said, we went to the wars together, and it was really fun to see them all.”
Luka Doncic on what skill or attribute he would steal from another NBA player:
— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) February 27, 2025
“Kyrie, handles. Shotmaking. I think he’s one of the best shooters…”
(via @overtime)
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The two stars will meet again on Apr. 9, when the Mavericks host the Lakers.
Luka Doncic playfully tells Mark Cuban to ‘Shut Up’ amid Lakers’ win over Mavericks
Longtime Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban got a firsthand experience of what it’s like to root against Luka Doncic on Tuesday as the star guard faced his former team for the first time since joining the Los Angeles Lakers.
Cuban, however, didn’t escape Doncic’s playful banter. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the Mavs’ former cornerstone had a lighthearted exchange with his old boss during the game.
“Each time Doncic touched the ball, Cuban made a show of booing him,” Shelburne reported. “At one point, Doncic turned to Cuban, smiled, and said, ‘Shut up, Mark.'”
Cuban didn’t mince words when asked about the experience of rooting against Luka Doncic after Tuesday’s game. “I hated it,” he said, per Bleacher Report.
READ: Luka Doncic carries Lakers past Mavericks in emotional night
I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
