On a Black Friday night built for drama, Luka Dončić’s long-anticipated reunion this year with the Dallas Mavericks is getting an extra dose of Hollywood energy.
The former Mavs cornerstone, now the face of a red-hot Los Angeles Lakers squad, is set to face his old team for the first time in 2026 at Crypto.com Arena. He made sure the entrance matched the moment Friday, showing up in a $5 million Bugatti W16 Mistral.
Luka Dončić Arrives in a Bugatti for Mavericks Game
The NBA Cup schedule couldn’t have scripted it better. The Mavs, off to a rough 5–14 start, come into Los Angeles desperate for footing. Meanwhile, the Lakers, owners of a 13–4 record and winners of five straight games, continue to rise behind their new superstar, Dončić.
But before tipoff, it was Dončić’s car that grabbed all the attention.
In a video shared by NBA on Prime on X, Dončić is seen rolling into the arena behind the wheel of a Bugatti W16 Mistral — a two-seat, mid-engine hypercar known as the fastest roadster on the planet. Only 99 exist. One now belongs to the Slovenian sensation.
The moment also carried emotional weight. Dončić has not forgotten how abruptly his Dallas run ended nine months ago, when the Mavericks dealt him to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
At the time, the trade stunned the league. Dončić had just led the Mavs to the 2024 NBA Finals and openly talked about staying with the franchise for his entire career. He admitted at the time that he felt hurt and blindsided by the move.
Friday marks his first time seeing the Mavs in the new season and the third time he will face them since joining the Lakers.
Despite the difficult breakup, Dončić has fully settled into his new role in Los Angeles. He signed a three-year, $165 million extension in August and has quickly become the emotional and statistical engine of the franchise.
Going into Nov. 28 action, he leads the NBA in scoring at 35.2 points per game, while also averaging 8.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists — numbers that put him squarely in early MVP conversations.
Meanwhile, his passion for cars is well-known, something he has repeatedly described as his biggest hobby after basketball. The Bugatti is simply the newest jewel in an already eye-catching collection.
Tonight’s matchup adds another layer: Dallas is expected to get Davis, the other main component of the blockbuster trade, back in the lineup. That sets up the type of storyline the league rarely gets — two franchises, each claiming they won the trade, now colliding with their stars on the floor.
The Mavs, struggling to find rhythm on offense, will attempt to spoil Dončić’s night. The Lakers, rolling with confidence, want to extend their streak and prove they’ve built a true contender around their new centerpiece.