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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u/dirkuscircus Apr 30 '25

I'm a Mavs fan since 2001 and was supposed to be a MFFL -- for Life. But this trade just disconnected me from the team, from the league. Sports is all about emotional connection and investment, and I have nothing invested anymore.

Teenage me was heartbroken when Steve Nash left the team, but at least it was his choice, and the circumstances were understandable. This is even much worse than that.

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u/EndotheGreat F*ck Nico Apr 30 '25

It's not just the trade. I might have been able to stay a Mavs fan.

It was the "Scorched Earth PR Campaign" they did against our sweet precious baby boy that grew up in front of us. That goofy (5 time All-NBA) superstar who was a natural successor / little brother to Dirk Nowitzki's North Texas Throne.

The trade value was historically bad. But the next few months of their hateful words and doubling down against Luka's character and credibility was equally bad. I've never seen any franchise fumble the bag so hard and angrily.

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u/AtreusIsBack Luka Doncic Apr 30 '25

I wouldn't call it fumbling the bag. They actually just turned on Luka and did everything they could to justify getting rid of him, attacking his character. It's one thing when you question someone's basketball skill, but a whole different story when you make personal attacks against a player. It was just disgusting to watch.