Luka Doncic's Camp Reportedly Nixed Mavericks' Special Offers for Return to Dallas

The Mavs 'lined up lucrative sponsorship deals,' for the return to Dallas but Doncic's camp nixed it.
Doncic will play against the Mavericks in Dallas for the first time on Wednesday
Doncic will play against the Mavericks in Dallas for the first time on Wednesday / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

On Wednesday evening Luka Doncic will return to Dallas wearing a different uniform. While it's the second time Doncic has played his old team, the Slovenian superstar will take the floor for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Dallas Mavericks in his former home for the very first time.

Anticipation surrounding the game is quite high, especially for an April game, and ESPN's Tim MacMahon published a feature on Doncic's return the morning of. In that feature, MacMahon reported on some of the Mavericks' plans to welcome back the former fan favorite after unceremoniously shipped out of town— and Doncic's camp apparently nixed one idea.

According to MacMahon the franchise had lined up "lucrative sponsorship deals" with multiple companies Doncic endorses, presmuably to promote his return to Dallas. Doncic's camp wasn't buying it for one big reason.

"Team sources told ESPN that the Mavs had also lined up lucrative sponsorship deals for Wednesday's game, with multiple companies that Doncic endorses," MacMahon wrote, "but those deals fell apart after Doncic's camp declined to give its blessing, pointedly noting that he now plays for the Lakers."

A fair thing to point out!

There were no illusions that there was any love lost between Doncic and the Mavs after the shocking trade that sent him to Los Angeles. An anecdote like this only furthers that perception.

It should be a very fun night in Dallas— but probably not for the Mavs.


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Liam McKeone
LIAM MCKEONE

Liam McKeone is a senior writer for the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He has been in the industry as a content creator since 2017, and prior to joining SI in May 2024, McKeone worked for NBC Sports Boston and The Big Lead. In addition to his work as a writer, he has hosted the Press Pass Podcast covering sports media and The Big Stream covering pop culture. A graduate of Fordham University, he is always up for a good debate and enjoys loudly arguing about sports, rap music, books and video games. McKeone has been a member of the National Sports Media Association since 2020.