LA Lakers star Luka Doncic asked about potential return to Dallas after firing of GM Harrison
Doncic was speaking after the Lakers were beaten in Oklahoma City
Luka Doncic says he will always call Dallas home but refused to speculate on playing again for the Mavericks.
Doncic left the Mavs in February for the Los Angeles Lakers in a trade that infuriated the fan base with calls for Dallas GM Nico Harrison to be fired heard long and loud before the axe finally fell on Tuesday.
Doncic has had a strong start to the season in Los Angeles and was in no mood to create headlines when he was asked about Harrison’s dismissal following the Lakers’ 121-92 beatdown by the Oklahoma City Thunder last night.
“The city of Dallas, the fans, the players, they’ll always have a special place in my heart,” Doncic said. “I thought I was going to stay there forever, but I didn’t. So, that will always be a special place for me. I will always call it home. But right now, I’m focused on the Lakers and trying to move on. But obviously, always there will be a part of me there.
“But just trying to move on and focus on what I’m doing here.”
Focusing on the Lakers – Doncic
Asked if Harrison’s departure could eventually see him return to the Mavs, Doncic added: “Right now, I’m just focused on the Lakers. No further comments.”
Doncic was the face of a franchise in Dallas, becoming a five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA selection and 2024 Western Conference finals MVP.
And after a slow start in LA, he is starting to warm-up after working hard on a fitness regime in the offseason.
Lakers have no answer to dominant Thunder
He averaged 37.1 points through his first seven games but, like his team-mates, struggled against the Thunder, who moved to 12-1 and set down a marker as they attempt to defend the NBA crown they won last season.
Doncic finished with a season-low 19 points.
“Definitely wasn’t our best game,” he said. “Probably one of the worst this season, but they did a great job. I think they all did a great job on me. They’re champions for a reason, so they showed that today. I think we need to be more ready. Obviously, it starts with me. I need to be way better than that and just got to figure [it] out.
“They were the champions for a reason and it’s a big motivation. They started the year even better [than last season], I think so. It’s a big motivation to see how they play and try to stop them.”