Longest-tenured Maverick believes team should retire Luka Doncic's jersey

Doncic wasn't in Dallas long, but his impact could be enough to get into the rafters.

Jan 12, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrates with center Dwight Powell (7) his three point basket scored against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The city of Dallas is preparing for what should be a hotly contested event as Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers play in the American Airlines Center for the first time since February's ridiculous trade.

Doncic had a massive impact on the Dallas Mavericks in his six-and-a-half seasons with the team, making five First-Team All-NBAs, advancing to the Western Conference Finals in 2022, and the NBA Finals in 2024. He wasn't in Dallas long but that still raises the question, was it enough to have his jersey retired one day?

READ MORE: NBA analyst torches Mavericks for 'malpractice' in Luka Doncic-Lakers trade

Mar 25, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell (7) reacts after losing the ball in the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

“I mean, yeah,” Dwight Powell told RG when he was asked if Doncic's jersey should be retired. “That’s not obviously my decision, but yeah.” He said earlier in the interview, "He did an amazing job of creating opportunities for everybody around him, and I was fortunate enough to be one of those targets. So, we learned very quickly how to play together, but it’s fairly easy to play with a guy like that... Some quick convos early on and understanding he’s a very special player and getting space to operate and understand teams are gonna do some creative strategies to try and throw him off his game, but just to make yourself available and let him be great."

Powell is the team's longest-tenured Maverick, by far, having been on the team since coming over in the Rajon Rondo trade in 2014, so his voice goes a long way. He's still a valued voice in the locker room and within the fanbase, so hopefully this will mend some fences.

If this were to come about after Doncic's playing days are over, it would have to be once the new ownership group moves on from the franchise. Patrick Dumont has bad-mouthed Doncic at nearly every public opportunity, so this could become a Kevin Garnett-Timberwolves situation if the ownership doesn't change soon, as Garnett has wanted nothing to do with the TWolves with Glen Taylor as the owner (he just sold the team). But Mavericks fans wanted to see a Doncic statue one day; a jersey in the rafters may have to do.

READ MORE: Nuggets make shocking move that Mavericks need to repeat

Stick with MavericksGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the 2024-25 Season

Follow MavericksGameday on Twitter and Austin Veazey on Twitter

More Dallas Mavericks News

• Mavericks' Anthony Davis hits game-winner to beat Hawks

• Miami Heat champion details locker room meltdown during 2011 NBA Finals vs. Mavericks

• Shocking Anthony Davis stat makes Mavericks trades somehow look even worse

• Mavericks' Klay Thompson speaks on possible retirement plans