You don’t usually see Luka Dončić or LeBron James holding back tears before tip-off. But on April 9 in Dallas, it wasn’t just another game.
It was Dončić’s return to the city he called home for seven unforgettable seasons, and emotions were running sky-high. The moment that stole the show was a heartfelt embrace between two of the league’s biggest superstars. One is a legend, the other becoming one — just pure brotherhood between two of the absolute best in the NBA.
Luka Dončić Returns and Dallas Remembers
From the moment Dončić stepped onto the hardwood at American Airlines Center, it was clear this was no ordinary night. Fans didn’t boo, they stood. Loud. Raw. Sentimental.
Then came the jumbotron tribute. A montage of Dončić’s rise, from a baby-faced rookie to the undisputed face of the franchise. Five All-NBA first-teams. Countless game-winners. A whole era. And then it ended.
As the tribute wrapped, cameras caught Dončić visibly tearing up. As he was introduced to the court, he turned to find the Los Angeles Lakers superstar, James, arms open and waiting. The hug between them wasn’t quick. It wasn’t staged. It was two dudes, one generation apart, sharing a moment only legends get. James whispered something, then gave Dončić a pat on the back, pulling him into the present.
LeBron consoling Luka after his tribute video ❤️
(via @LADEig)pic.twitter.com/0KgpILQgSI
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 9, 2025
This wasn’t just James being a veteran leader; this was the King reminding his new partner he has a new team that has his back.
Dončić Handled Business in Dallas
Once the ball went up, the emotion turned into straight-up domination. Dončić dropped a season-high 45 points, tacked on eight rebounds, and dished six assists as the Los Angeles Lakers rolled past the Dallas Mavericks 112-97.
It was Dončić’s first 40+ point game in a Lakers uniform. And it came in the exact building that used to erupt for him on command. A little poetic? Absolutely.
Even more poetic was that the win locked Los Angeles into a top-six seed in the Western Conference, avoiding the play-in. Meanwhile, the Mavericks and Anthony Davis dropped their sixth game in eight outings. Clinging to the No. 10 seed like a loose thread on a jersey, Dallas fans booed their front office louder than they cheered their team.
It’s wild to think that two months ago, Dončić was in Dallas. Now, he’s flipping the West upside down in purple and gold. In the end, Dončić’s return was everything: tears, buckets, and that viral hug with James. One city said goodbye. Another one, maybe, just found its next banner.