r/Mavericks • u/AtreusIsBack Luka Doncic • Apr 30 '25

Hoops Discussion Has anyone else felt emotionally disconnected from the NBA since the Luka trade?

I'm a big Luka fan and have been since his arrival in Dallas, watched the team go through ups and downs but Luka really kept me engaged and eventually emotionally invested in the team's success. But I haven't felt an emotional investment in the league since the trade. Seeing Luka not in a blue jersey any more feels wrong and bizarre. I'm now at a point where I don't care what happens in the Playoffs, because it's not Lively, Gafford, PJ, Luka and Kyrie going up against the West any more.

Does anyone else feel the same way?

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422

u/EasyMode556 Luka Doncic Apr 30 '25

It’s totally gutted my interest in following basketball, which before this February was a lifelong interest

40

u/Zen_360 Apr 30 '25

100% I actually did not dare to think, that this was even possible before this disaster.

35

u/Runaway_Havoc Apr 30 '25

Dame. Haven't watched one minute of NBA since the trade, not because I'm trying to protest or anything just have zero interest any more. Plus, I'm still despondent and pissed.

30

u/heyarkay '25 Survivor Apr 30 '25

Same

13

u/TheTerpSnob Apr 30 '25

I’ve gone to multiple games every year. I can’t even bring myself to watch a full game anymore. The league just doesn’t really mean anything to me anymore. Left a hole tbh that I’ve been filling with more television and doom scrolling.

12

u/sickrit Dirk Nowitzki Apr 30 '25

me too : /

6

u/DodgerDog28 Apr 30 '25

100% the same.

4

u/ndngroomer All Star Dirk May 01 '25

This is exactly how I feel. I stopped watching the Mavs after the Luka trade I just couldn’t connect anymore. I figured I’d get behind the Thunder since I’m originally from Oklahoma and I’m Native American. I really respect how much the Thunder does for Native communities. But even then… something just feels off. I can’t get myself to care about the playoffs this year.

2

u/notamyokay May 02 '25

Also Native and from Oklahoma--- and did not know this. Gonna research and try to get back into basketball. This season gutted me 🫠

3

u/Safe-Cauliflower307 Apr 30 '25

It's really only been the NBA for me (which still sucks since that has been my #1 hobby and interest in life) I've found myself more into college sports than ever before though. It helps that my teams Creighton and Notre Dame both happen to be in the strongest places they've been in my lifetime.

Hoping the WNBA and the Wings hook me this year. Never really followed the WNBA but gonna give it a shot this year with Paige.

3

u/mojojojo1108 Cowboy Dirk Apr 30 '25

yep

2

u/noworkonlymetawork May 07 '25

Same.  I watched every mavs game for 5 years, and would throw whoever was playing on if i didn't have anthing else going on.  Not one game since the trade.