In his own way of simply keeping it real, Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd believes Mavs fans deserve the right to pay homage and show
their appreciation for Luka Dončić when he and the Los Angeles Lakers visit American Airlines Center on Wednesday night.
Dončić played for the Mavs from 2018 until they traded him, Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber to the Lakers on Feb. 2 for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick. Before he was shipped to the West Coast, Dončić was the linchpin as the Mavs advanced to the 2022 Western Conference Finals and to last season’s NBA Finals.
Following Tuesday’s practice, Kidd said: “There’s no doubt that (the fans) have that right and they should cheer for him. He’s one that has entertained since his rookie year. I think it’s safe to say that they should cheer. But for us it’s about trying to find a way to win.”
And while the Mavs try to do that, Kidd knows the atmosphere inside AAC will be ultra-electric. Particularly since this will be the first game for 
Dončić at AAC as a member of a team not named the Mavericks.
“It is emotional, I think, anytime anybody is traded,” Kidd said. “So, coming back for the first time or even the second time or the third time — because of the memories of being able to get to the Western Conference Finals or to be able to get to the (NBA) Finals, or to be an All-Star – the things that he has done in a short amount of time is incredible.
“I don’t think it’s just this one time that it’ll be emotional. I think it’s going to be emotional for years to come. And I think that’s safe to say and that’s fair that the fans here have a right to cheer for him.”
For the Mavs, Davis acknowledged that he and his teammates must guard against trying to do too much knowing the atmosphere and emotions surrounding this game will probably be unlike any other regular-season game. Davis got a glimpse of exactly that when he played for the New Orleans Pelicans from 2012 until they traded him to the Lakers in 2019.
“Just play basketball,” Davis said. “They’ve never probably experienced anything like this. I’ve been traded before, so going back to New Orleans I’ve been through it.
So, I kind of know what to expect and kind of know how to funnel those emotions and just play basketball.
“But that’s what makes the game fun. That’s what makes basketball and sports fun and entertaining having games like (Wednesday) in the regular season, so it’s going to be fun. And I’ll do my job the best I can to kind of keep the guys together and not get too high and not get too low, but focus in on the game.”
Davis also said: “It’s just another game. Y’all (media are) making it bigger than it needs to be. It’s another game for me.
“It’ll be Luka’s first time back, so it might be a lot of emotions for him back in Dallas. But for me it’s another game to try and get better and make a step in the right direction for our team.”
In Davis’ first trip to New Orleans on Nov. 27, 2019 following his trade to the Lakers, he scored 41 points on 15-of-30 shooting, and also had nine rebounds and three steals. And with the Lakers ahead of the Pelicans by just two points, it was a steal and two free throws by Davis with only 4.2 seconds left that clinched the Lakers’ 114-110 victory.
“We got the win and I had the game winning free throws, so it was icing on the cake,” Davis said. “But it was fun and it was entertaining.”
Since he has coached Dončić more than any other NBA coach, Kidd certainly knows the point guard’s strengths and weaknesses and that his game has 
an entertainment aspect to it. In addition, he knows Dončić can take over a game at any second.
“He’s playing incredible, but that’s Luka,” Kidd said. “Luka is one of the best players in the world. You’ve got to be able to show different defenses (to contain him), and that’s even hard.
“When you look at what he’s doing, he’s shooting the three, he’s getting to the rim and to the free throw line, and then he’s setting the table for his teammates. Our defense will be tested.”
When asked what part of Dončić’s game is most dangerous, Kidd said: “They’re all dangerous. That’s what makes him one of the best players in the world. When you look at his ability to find players, being able to score, set the tone — especially when he gets you dancing with him, he has the advantage.
“For us, we’ve got to try to make it tough on him and contest knowing that he’s going to score. Again, he’s playing at a high level.”
Kidd, who was an assistant coach with the Lakers when they captured the 2020 NBA title, noted there’s another critical element to Wednesday’s nationally televised (ESPN) game that have to be considered.
“I’ve been with the Lakers and won a championship, and understand that they do travel well,” he said, referring to Laker fans. “The (Mavs) fans have a right to cheer, understand what (Dončić) has done for this franchise in a short time, and I think that’s right.
“But the big thing for us is to stay in the moment, focus on what’s in front of us. If he scores, take the ball out and go the other way and just play the game. There will be a lot of emotions and a lot of cheers.”
Kidd just hopes when the game ends, a lot of the cheers will be for the Mavs if they’re able to post a victory.
Here are some other nuggets surrounding Wednesday’s game against the Lakers.
*The Mavs have just three regular season games remaining. After Wednesday, they will host Toronto on Friday and play in Memphis on Sunday. The Mavs have a shot at hosting a play-in game if they can clinch the Western Conference’s No. 9 seed, which is currently occupied by the Sacramento Kings. But the Mavs must win their remaining three games and the Kings (39-40) must lose two of their remaining three games – all of them at home — 
against the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns.
*The Lakers have won four of their last six games. They come to Dallas after playing two games in Oklahoma City. The Lakers won at OKC Sunday, 126-99, behind 30 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals from Dončić, and 20 points from Austin Reaves. OKC beat the Lakers on Tuesday, 136-120. Dončić scored to put the Lakers ahead, 108-107, with 7:40 remaining in the game. But he received his second technical foul and automatic ejection on the play, and the Thunder outscored the Lakers, 29-12, the remainder of the game.
*In the only game Luka Dončić played against the Mavs on Feb. 25 in Los Angeles, the Lakers led, 78-77, after the third quarter and outscored D
allas, 29-22, in the fourth and prevailed, 107-99. Mavs guard Kyrie Irving finished with 35 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks and was 5-of-11 from three-point land. Klay Thompson tallied 22 points, grabbed eight boards and was 5-of-10 from downtown. Dončić led the Lakers with 19 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, and two blocks, but was only 6-of-17 from the field and 1-of-7 on three-pointers.
*Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford did not play in the Feb. 25 game against the Lakers due to injuries. That led to the Lakers outrebounding the Mavs, 57-45. But Lively and Gafford are scheduled to play on Wednesday, and Davis is listed as probable.
*Lakers forward LeBron James is averaging 24.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 8.4 apg. “He’s a great offensive talent,” Davis said. “He’s got a good cast around him, which makes him a lot more dangerous because of his ability to pass the basketball. We just got to make it tough for him, make him see bodies and play in a crowd.”
*The Mavs are coming off losses to the Los Angeles Clippers Friday (114-91) and Saturday (135-104). “We watched the film and figured out ways that we can get better coming out of those two games – two disappointing games, honestly,” Davis said. “We didn’t defend — giving up 130-plus (points). That’s not our ballclub. We’re fighting for something. All those teams in the West – two through 11 — are fighting for seedings and for spots.”
*The Mavs had Sunday and Monday off, but were back at practice on Tuesday. Now that a lot of the Mavs’ injured players have returned, Davis discussed the challenge of figuring things out on the fly. “The process is fun — the journey is fun,” Davis said. “It’s definitely tougher just because it’s so late in the season and you don’t have practice time with guys in and out of the lineup because of injuries, and then you can’t really work on things. But we were able to get a couple of days off, practice today and kind of get back into the swing of things. But for me, just try to bring that leadership identity and try to help the guys out to learn on the fly. Our practice time is during games. So, I’m trying to be very vocal on both ends of the floor.”
LOS ANGELES LAKERS (48-31) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (38-41)
When: 6:30 p.m., Wednesday
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: WFAA-8, KFAA-29, ESPN, MavsTV Stream
Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
X: @DwainPrice
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