Former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins expects strong statement from Luka Doncic in first game against Mavericks

Revenge is in the air.

On Tuesday night, Luka Doncic will match up against the Dallas Mavericks for the first time since he was traded by the franchise to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this month. Considering how the Mavericks' front office has operated since the deal went down, Doncic will probably have an extra edge when he takes court against his former team.

Former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins made it clear that he expects Doncic to try and make a statement while speaking on FanDuel's 'Run It Back' show with Michelle Beadle, Chandler Parsons, and Lou Williams.

DeMarcus Cousins and Luka — Jan 23, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) passes the ball past Houston Rockets center DeMarcus Cousins (15) during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Cousins can relate to Doncic's scenario as he was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017. During Cousins' first matchup against the team that drafted him, he put up 37 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block.

This is clearly not just another game, it could very well get personal.

"I know how I felt when I made my return to the team that traded me," Cousins said. "I was a shark in bloody water. I expect nothing less from Luka. I think it's going to be a lot of emotion, I think it'll be a lot of antics and I think he's coming out firing right away. I think he's going to try to put a statement."

"When I made my return to the team that traded me, I was a shark in bloody water. I expect nothing less from Luka."@BoogieCousins expects Luka Doncic to make a statement against the Mavericks 🦈@MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/u1bnNomeki
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 24, 2025

GM Nico Harrison and team governor Patrick Dumont have had a holier-than-though attitude since moving on from Doncic, taking multiple shots at the 25-year-old while he was on his way out the door. The Mavericks have also ejected fans from home games for vocally protesting Harrison at home games, leading to even more uproar.

Cousins played in the NBA for over a decade from 2010-2022. He's spent the last three seasons playing professionally in Puerto Rico, China, and Mongolia. Cousins was a four-time all-star and a two-time all-NBA second-team selection.

Feb 22, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) points to players for positioning during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

In four games with the Lakers, Doncic is averaging 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.5 steals in 27.8 minutes per game. He had his best performance since the trade on Saturday, putting up 32 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, and a block in a 123-100 victory against the Nuggets.

Make sure to have your popcorn nearby on Tuesday night.

The Moving Parts Of The Luka Doncic Trade

Mavericks: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 Lakers first-round pick

Lakers: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris

Jazz: Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 Clippers second-round pick, 2025 Mavericks second-round pick

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