Sixty-six days after being traded from the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic will return to American Airlines Center on Wednesday for the first time as a Los Angeles Laker.
"I don't really know what to expect," Doncic told reporters postgame, according to ESPN. "I don't know how I'm going to feel, honestly. I'm looking forward to being back in Dallas, obviously, with the fans, seeing my teammates - ex-teammates. It's going to be very emotional for me, for sure."
Doncic faced his former team in L.A. on Feb. 25, posting 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 107-99 win.
Following that victory, Doncic said, "The closure is going to take a while."
He was asked after Tuesday's 136-120 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder if playing in Dallas will help his healing process.
"Honestly, I don't know about closure," Doncic said. "It's obviously a lot."
Mavs general manager Nico Harrison traded Doncic midseason to get ahead of what he called a "tumultuous summer." He cited the team's defensive needs as reason for making the move which brought in Anthony Davis.
Since the trade, Dallas has gone 12-18, falling to 10th in the Western Conference. Davis has appeared in only seven of those games after sustaining an adductor strain in his team debut.
The Lakers are 20-12 over that span and sit third in the West. Doncic is averaging 27.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.6 assists across 26 games with L.A.
The Mavericks will honor Doncic with a tribute video and fan t-shirts in the arena, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
