It was a bittersweet night for Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving. His team fell to the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, but the game carried extra significance as he faced his former teammate Luka Doncic. After the final buzzer, Irving opened up about the emotions of playing against him in a regular-season matchup.
Nearly a month has passed since the blockbuster trade that sent Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, one of the most stunning moves in recent memory. With no prior speculation or reports hinting at the deal, many fans are still in disbelief.
Now donning the purple and gold, Doncic faced his former team for the first time, albeit in Los Angeles rather than Dallas. Despite the setting, Mavericks players made sure he felt welcome, reminiscing about their time together at the American Airlines Center.
For Irving, the reunion was a mix of nostalgia and surreal emotions. “It was awkward as s***. It was,” he admitted. “But now I can talk about the emotions, awkward, but at the same time, it was fun.”
Irving elaborated on the experience: “We got the chance to feel like we were in practice all over again, going at each other. That was a good reflection point. Just seeing the crowd cheer for him, watching him make shots I’ve seen a thousand times—that probably made it even more awkward (laughs).”
Irving on facing Doncic as an opponent
Kyrie Irving didn’t just talk about seeing Doncic in a different jersey, he also reflected on the competition itself. The Mavericks star acknowledged the challenge of going up against his former teammate and the Lakers’ other top players. “It was fun competing. A lot of high-level basketball players out there, a lot of high-IQ plays. I’m happy to be part of that as a competitor,” Irving said.
Irving also noted the impact of Lakers head coach JJ Redick on the team’s emotional preparation, particularly for Doncic. “You can tell JJ Redick was preparing them emotionally, especially Luka. I feel like he handled himself well, and it was good to show up in L.A.,” Irving added. His comments reflected not just his respect for the game, but also the bond he and Dončić built during their time as teammates in Dallas.
Doncic reflects on facing the Mavs
Flooded with emotions, the Slovenian superstar spent seven years with the Mavericks, developing into one of the league’s elite talents while bringing global attention to his home country. Facing Dallas again stirred deep feelings, and after the game, Doncic struggled to put them into words.
“It was just a lot of emotions… I can’t even explain it. It was a different game,” Dončić told reporters. “Like I said, sometimes I don’t know what I’m doing. Just glad it’s over.” His words underscored the weight of the moment, as he reflected on his journey and the lasting connections he formed in Dallas.