Subscribe
Follow Us
As Luka Doncic made his return to face the Dallas Mavericks, he put up an impeccable game against his former team the Los Angeles Lakers. While the Mavericks' new star Anthony Davis spoke highly of Doncic after the contest, former player Gilbert Arenas would comment on the former Los Angeles big-man's performance.
Arenas was on his podcast titled “Gil's Arena” where they spoke about Doncic's return to Dallas as host was disappointed in Davis' outing where he finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. He would even go as far as to say that Davis “failed the assignment,” explaining he could've had the chance to one-up Doncic.
“Just as a basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks I’m sorry to tell you you failed the assignment last night,” Arenas said. “They’re screaming another name in here, they’ve got flags all through the mother f—–r. It wasn't an American flag, it wasn’t a Dallas, Texas flag, it was his country flag. It was your chance, your spotlight to show the Dallas Maverick fans you ain’t no bum, you’re going to bring them something, and nobody even noticed you.”
Doncic would torch his former team with 45 points on 16 of 28 shooting from the field to go along with eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
Gilbert Arenas down on Mavericks' Anthony Davis, high on Luka Doncic
While Doncic returning to face the Mavericks drew a boatload of viewership, the focus was not on Davis which was Arenas' point to begin with. On the other hand, Arenas would speak on the “greatness” in Doncic's performance and even implied it being a top moment ever in the NBA.
“Getting traded in your first time back, 45, is the number one thing in the modern basketball game,” Arenas said. “LeBron is second when he went back to Cleveland, KD cupcake game when he came back. Barkley, first time back in Philadelphia, four best games that a player coming back to that city off an emotional trade.”
“What happened last night, greatness to be honest,” Arenas continued. “In the fact that he mustered all of those feelings out of him to actually perform very well. Usually your first time back, the emotions of the crowd get the best of you. He had an amazing performance.”
“One of the best moments in NBA history”@GilsArenaShow say Luka Doncic’s first game back in Dallas is the greatest revenge game in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/RuyOMdR0lj
— Underdog (@Underdog) April 10, 2025
At any rate, Dallas looks to move on from the trade that sent Doncic to the Lakers and build around Davis who still is an elite player in the game. The team hopes for a playoff push but is currently 38-42 which puts them 10th in the West before taking on the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.
