Doncic's Mave reunion was 'so weird'

Doncic was at the center of the Lakers' attack from the start against Dallas. He missed a 3-pointer after the opening tip, but blocked a shot on Dallas' first possession before adding a layup and an assist on a 3-pointer by James moments later.

Doncic was hyped, as evidenced when he got whistled for an early technical foul by referee Pat Fraher for overzealously protesting a non-call. Two teammates rushed over to Doncic to make sure it went no farther.

Dallas general manager Nico Harrison, who has probably bet his career on trading Doncic, was at the game from pregame warmups onward. Doncic said he didn't see him.

While Doncic shot some early free throws, Lakers fans started a chant that returned throughout the night: "Thank you Nico! Thank you Nico!"

Mark Cuban, who sold controlling interest in the Mavericks 14 months ago, also watched the game from courtside. The billionaire jokingly booed Doncic a few times before Doncic grinningly replied: "Shut up, Mark!"

"It was awkward, but at the same time, it was fun," said Dallas guard Kyrie Irving, Doncic's good friend. "We got a chance to feel like we were in practice all over again, going at each other. That was a good reflection point, and then just seeing the crowd cheer for him and just get him going and see him make some of the tough shots that I've seen him make thousands of times, that probably made it even more awkward. But it was fun. It's fun competing."

Doncic was widely assumed to be untouchable as one of the league's best players at just 25 years old — and particularly after carrying the Mavs to the NBA Finals last season. Harrison thought otherwise, and the Lakers eagerly gave up a championship-winning big man to acquire a younger foundational talent for the next decade and beyond.

This game would have been twice as portentous if Anthony Davis had been healthy, but the 10-time All-Star big man who teamed up with James to lead the Lakers to the 2020 championship is out at least two more weeks with a groin injury sustained in his Mavs debut.

Davis still attended the game, and he got a standing ovation in the first quarter when the Lakers aired a lengthy tribute video to their longtime center, who waved both arms in gratitude.

Los Angeles also welcomed back Max Christie, the Lakers' former second-round pick who grew into a starter this season before the trade. Christie scored all of his 10 points in the first half.

The next trade reunion should be even crazier: The Lakers visit Dallas on April 9, and Mavs fans already have been extraordinarily vocal in their displeasure with Harrison and the Dallas ownership group.

Agencies Via Xinhua