Luka Dončić will once again square off against his former team when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks this fall in Las Vegas.
The preseason matchup is taking place on Oct. 15 at the T-Mobile Arena.
This isn’t the first time Luka will face the Mavs as a Laker, but it is the first time he’ll do it under the bright lights of Sin City. And while the reunion may no longer carry the shock factor it once did, it still promises to be an emotional, high-energy matchup for fans of both franchises.
Since arriving in L.A., Dončić has continued his superstar trajectory, blending his trademark playmaking and flair with the Hollywood spotlight.
For Lakers fans, he’s already a worthy successor. However, for Mavs fans, it’s still a little painful.
Dallas, now led by new ownership under the Adelson family, is navigating the post-Luka era with big ambitions. The Adelsons, casino and resort giants with deep roots in Las Vegas, took over the franchise in late 2023 and are looking to build a new entertainment district and modern arena in Dallas.
The plans for that arena are moving “full speed ahead,” according to Mavs CEO Rick Welts. In an April interview, Welts said the team remained committed to staying in the City of Dallas, and he hopes to have a site identified for a new arena by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been vocal about the NBA’s desire for a multi-team expansion, mostly hinting at the return of the Seattle SuperSonics and joining other pro leagues opening up shop in Vegas. However, Silver quashed the rumors of Dallas’s franchise being moved to make either of those expansion teams a reality.
The Lakers’ preseason begins Oct. 3 in Greater Palm Springs, but it’s the Oct. 15 matchup in Vegas that’s turning heads. Luka vs. the Mavs with tickets going on sale June 6.
It may not be the first time Luka meets his past, but for fans in Vegas, it’ll feel like a headline event all over again.
