The NBA sets the stage for an early clash between the Lakers and Mavericks this October in Las Vegas. The potential preseason matchup comes with Luka Dončić’s trade to Los Angeles now part of league history. With two of the NBA’s most talked-about teams meeting in a neutral setting, there’s plenty to watch as the story unfolds.
Luka Dončić Vegas Return Sparks Blockbuster Reunion on Neutral Ground
Over the past season, the blockbuster mid-February trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis reshaped both rosters and rewrote the league’s power dynamics.
Dončić’s exit from Dallas ended a run where he had spent his entire NBA career with the Mavericks. On the flip side, the Lakers moved on from Davis after his brief All-Star stint, choosing to rebuild around a new core led by Dončić.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, “Expect an early season matchup between the Mavericks and Luka Dončić in 2025-26: I’m told that the Lakers and Mavericks are lining up to play a preseason game in Las Vegas in October”.
Expect an early season matchup between the Mavericks and Luka Dončić in 2025-26:
I’m told that the Lakers and Mavericks are lining up to play a preseason game in Las Vegas in October.
More NBA from me: https://t.co/IIIlAloJCf
And noon CT today on @DLLS_Sports pic.twitter.com/7tUrxDr9DA
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 7, 2025
Stein’s report, published on The Stein Line, highlights the NBA’s goal of tapping into the buzz around big-name players and fresh storylines. With new rosters and major star power on both sides, this preseason game has more going for it than just warmups—it’s built for drama.
The likely venue for this high-profile clash is T-Mobile Arena, an 18,000-seat facility that has become the epicenter of NBA neutral-site events. Las Vegas has hosted the league’s Summer League, the NBA Cup knockout rounds, and multiple Lakers preseason visits dating back decades.
The league aims to mix basketball with entertainment by playing the game in Vegas, drawing in both tourists and media attention.
Road to Sin City: Stakes and Storylines
For the Lakers, the exhibition will serve as an early test of cohesion between Dončić and LeBron James, should the 40-year-old remain in Los Angeles, whose trade forged a superstar tandem designed to dominate the Western Conference.
Dallas is taking a shot at finding a new identity without Dončić. Coach Jason Kidd will get a chance to test young players and veteran role players in a tough, spotlight-filled setting. The Mavericks didn’t play in Las Vegas last preseason, so this return comes with added meaning as the league continues to test expansion possibilities.
This game isn’t just about who wins or loses. It’s also about how the NBA sees the future. Las Vegas has become a proving ground for the league’s next steps, whether adding a new team or relocating an existing one. Games like this help measure interest and test how big-time basketball plays in a nontraditional market.
As Las Vegas works hard to land its own NBA franchise, matchups like the Lakers vs. Mavericks help build momentum and keep the city in the conversation.