Luka Dončić posted an emotional farewell to Dallas on Sunday, the same day a trade sending him from the Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for fellow All-NBA player Anthony Davis was finalized.
In a letter to the city, Dončić said he “wanted so badly to bring you a championship” and that he thought he’d spend his entire career in Dallas.
“For a young kid from Slovenia coming to the U.S. for the first time, you made North Texas feel like home,” Dončić wrote. “In good times and bad, from injuries to the NBA Finals, your support never changed. Thank you not only for sharing my joy in our best moments, but also for lifting me up when I needed it most.”
Dončić was hugely popular in Dallas — and across the NBA. His No. 77 Mavericks jersey was the eighth-best seller through NBAStore.com in the first half of the season. On Sunday night, some Dončić items were still available on the Mavs’ store.
His jersey sales are expected to rise again now that the Lakers will sell his new jerseys.
“Grateful for this amazing opportunity,” Dončić wrote in another post, sharing a message from the Lakers welcoming him to Los Angeles. “Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play the game, I’ll do so with the same joy, passion and goal — to win championships.”
Dončić had built strong connections with Dallas outside of basketball, particularly through charitable work. He had donated large amounts of money to various organizations in North Texas and arranged for Jordan Brand sneakers — as part of his sponsorship — to be given to frontline workers during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The feeling was mutual. When Dončić led Slovenia to a spot in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Dallas County Commissioners declared July 6 of that year as “Luka Dončić Day” in honor of both his basketball and charitable contributions.
In just 422 games, Dončić ranks sixth on Dallas’ all-time scoring list, second in 3-pointers behind Dirk Nowitzki, third in rebounds, and fifth in assists.
“To all the organizations I’ve worked with throughout the Dallas community, thank you for letting me contribute to your important work and join you in bringing light to those who need it,” Dončić wrote. “As I start the next part of my basketball journey, I am leaving a city that will always feel like a home away from home. Dallas is a special place, and Mavs fans are special fans.”
