DALLAS — Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 112-97 victory against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, on Wednesday night. It was an emotional return to Dallas for Doncic. Yet, he was able to still score 45 points, something that Lakers head coach JJ Redick called “super-human.”

“Allowing himself to be vulnerable… Some of his teammates got emotional, some of the coaches got emotional. It was a beautiful moment,” JJ Redick said of Luka Doncic receiving a tribute video from the Mavericks before the game. “I thought the video was great. But just his ability to go then perform, lights turn on, he's teary eyed still as we walk out on the court… To have the emotional resolve to go then put on that kind of performance, it's super-human.

“I think all his teammates know that, too, because I think all his teammates can empathize with what he just went through over the last couple months. Maybe some anticipation, maybe some dread, but certainly a ton of emotions about tonight. And then he went and did that. It's big time.”

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Redick also joked that he was “disappointed” because Luka Doncic failed to score 50 points. In all reality, though, the Lakers head coach was clearly impressed with his star player's performance on Wednesday.

Doncic had already established himself as not just a fan-favorite in Dallas, but one of the greatest Mavericks of all-time. He accomplished so much at just 25 years old. Luka was traded the same month he would turn 26, and he has continued to play well in LA with the Lakers.

One has to imagine that Doncic is happy to move on from the Mavericks-Lakers game, though. As Redick mentioned, there was likely plenty of anticipation and possibly some dread before the contest. Now, Luka can move on and focus on helping the Lakers make a playoff run.