On Saturday evening, the Dallas Mavericks will host the Los Angeles Lakers in Texas.
The Mavs and Lakers have a lot more eyes on all of their matchups after the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić from Dallas to Los Angeles in 2025.
Jason Kidd Made His Feelings Clear About Luka Dončić Trade
Before Saturday’s showdown, head coach Jason Kidd was asked about the trade (h/t Noah Weber).
Kidd: “I think it’s one year, and next year will be two years, and next after that it will be three, and we’ll just keep counting. Luka’s moved on, and we’ve moved on.”
Jason Kidd when asked if he wishes that he could’ve done something to stop the Luka Doncic trade:
“No, I think it’s one year, and next year will be two years…Luka’s moved on, and we’ve moved on…That’s just the business of basketball, gotta move forward.” pic.twitter.com/DEG541UYPf
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) January 24, 2026
Dončić had led the Mavs to the 2024 NBA Finals the season before the trade took place.
He is currently averaging 33.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.6 steals per contest while shooting 46.5% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range in 35 games.
Matchup notes 📝 @GlobeLife | Three Things to Know pic.twitter.com/aEe1xrKc89
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 24, 2026
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The Lakers come into the night as the fifth seed in the Western Conference with a 26-17 record in 43 games.
They have gone 4-6 over their last ten games (and are 14-9 on the road).
Following the Mavs, the Lakers will play their next game on Monday when they visit the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.
Meanwhile, the Mavs have had a tough year without their former star.
They enter play with a 19-26 record in 45 games, which has them as the 11th seed in the Western Conference.
Despite their poor performance on the season, the Mavs are in the middle of a four-game winning streak (and 7-3 over their last ten).
After the Lakers, they will visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.
(2/2):
Dante Exum (right knee surgery) – OUT
Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery) – OUT
Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery) – OUT— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) January 24, 2026
Dončić was the third pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
While he has never won a title or an MVP, the 26-year-old is a five-time NBA All-Star.
