The time has come: Luka Doncic and the Mavericks are set to face off in their first reunion since the monumental trade that has sent shockwaves through the NBA. The move, which many consider the greatest in NBA history, has completely altered the landscape of the league. This unexpected transfer, which occurred without leaks and caught everyone off guard, has had far-reaching consequences. The trade, first reported by an astonished Shams Charania of ESPN, was quickly hailed by experts as the most significant in NBA history. Rapid historical revisionism reveals that nothing similar has ever been seen—a star player, a future generational player, being traded without his knowledge to a direct rival, and that rival being the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that always seems to be at the center of the biggest stories.

“When I returned to the team that transferred me, it was like a shark in the water. I don’t expect less from Luka. I think there will be a lot of emotion,” said Demarcus Cousins, whose words, though not necessarily a benchmark of public opinion, hit the nail on the head regarding the upcoming match between the Lakers and Mavericks. The emotional weight of this reunion will overshadow the sports result, which, while important, is secondary. The anticipation and the emotional rollercoaster are palpable as fans and players alike await the game.

Kyrie Irving, now the spiritual leader of the Mavericks, also spoke about the upcoming match at Crypto Arena, set to take place at 4:00 AM. “Luka will obviously have a lot of confidence, played the last game well, so he feels good and we have to be aware of it,” said Irving. The distribution of responsibilities has been brief, and it is assumed that Doncic will not have any bad gestures with his former colleagues or vice versa. The Mavericks, however, have been left with a bitter taste by the trade, which was orchestrated by Patrick Dumont and the Adelson family, who have been linked to the murky business of betting houses. Nico Harrison was the tool to carry out the astonishing change, with the Mavericks receiving Max Christie and Anthony Davis, who was injured in his first game with the team and did not agree with the movement.

Since then, the Mavericks’ management has been making excuses that have not convinced anyone. Speaking of the state of a maid, the lack of care for his body, and the debauchery he exercised to get in tune, have been some of the justifications offered. Jason Kidd, the Mavericks’ coach, has also been criticized for not mentioning Doncic by name, referring to him only as “that player we have transferred.” This has put a coach who has not been happy with something that has taken away his most valuable piece, the one who led the Mavericks to the past and left the entity three victories of the ring.

Track Winner, Moral Winner

The victory will be for the persevering, who keeps the head cold and hot doll. Doncic comes from its first great exhibition with the Lakers’ shirt, beating the Nuggets with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. In that game, the JJ Redick team showed that it is a defensive machine that has not reached the fourth position of the West Conference by chance. The connection between the Slovenian and LeBron James is very big. The King gave the last position of the presentation to his new partner in the debut, something he thanked him greatly. The symbiotic relationship between the two is brutal, demonstrating that they are two players who can be without the ball and adapt to the other. And that, together with Austin Reaves, they form a trio that demonstrates extraordinary skills for the pass, taking advantage of the background, finding their peers open or leading counterattacks with an almost poetic fineness.

The Lakers are, for the moment, 2-2 with Doncic on the track, they had an incomprehensible defeat against the Hornets in a parico that they had cattle and another unexpected in Salt Lake City against the jazz, against which they defeated in the debut of the Slovenian. The best face shown with the new acquisition playing next to LeBron was in Denver. We will see if that is sustained in time taking into account another impeccable reality: Los Angeles slightly forced Luka’s debut for the expectation generated and in the first meetings it was shown that the star was still low in a way, re-requesty of the injury of the injury that the injury had Christmas Day, in the end the last one he played with the Mavericks. Now, he has had the whole break of the All Star (which he was not selected) and is seen otherwise. And, again, we must insist on his association with LeBron, on the possibilities that this gives to the classmates: “I am obtaining so open shots that I feel with my ass exposed. Excuse my language,” said Dorian Finney-Smith. Suddenly two of the best pins in history come together in the same team. And one of them seems to be fully recovered.

On the other side of the coin are the Mavericks. The template has decided to stay out of everything and everyone and make pineapple. Start believing in what they have more than what they have lost. And, once recovered from (huge) shock initial, it seems that they have done a spectacular exercise of survival and maturity, more if we take into account the injury of Anthony Davis (whose career has a new prism in his new destination), and have decided to get to work. They have five victories in the last seven games since the transfer, have become strong in misfortune and have even forgotten that Klay Thompson left San Francisco’s heat to play next to a maiden that is no longer there. Ironies of destiny, poetic injustices and situations that come out in Hollywood films. In that cradle of critical idealism and false realism they will face tonight Lakers and Mavericks. In the same headquarters that a few days ago Dirk Nowitzki came to see Luka Donc’s debut to throw more salt in an open wound than not to bleed. Front front and elbow. More and more alone, surrounded by people. It is what it has.

The game will be, sure, the most watched of the night, and will allow the NBA to presume to be the best show of the planet. We will see how those involved are greeted and if Anthony Davis has his deserved tribute and his gratitude video for the services provided and the 2020 ring. Also for being the other side of the currency of a movement that, like those of that greatness (which are few) always leaves collateral damage. LeBron, on the other hand, will dedicate themselves to see them come while savoring the honey, the one that knows that it exists and that can give him the long-awaited fifth ring of champion, we will see if in a few months or next year. The dimension achieved by the Lakers in the transfer is noticeable in the attitude of the Rey, that perfectly externalizes what he feels when he sniffs something that goes beyond hope. And that will meet Kyrie Irving, his great friend. Seen what has been seen, everything will be reunions in the day of the reunions and in the party of the reunions. With Doncic and the Mavericks, obviously, at most attractive. On April 10 there will be a second assault in Dallas. There we will know what position each team can occupy in the classification. Can you imagine a Lakers against Mavericks in the first round of playoffs? The mother of all the morbidity would come together in the same series. But that, of course, are hypothesis. The night will be reality. As much as it is hard to believe. Again: Live to see.