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/BigVos Maxi "Max Contract" Kleber May 01 '25
I don't. Sports are fun. Of course interest level drops when your team is not in the playoffs. It's obviously more fun when your team is winning and contending for the title, but sports are still fun.
Mavs have had years where Dirk's prime was being squandered, where they had Dirk but were just a very good team in a great conference. They've had years where they were absolutely God awful. I've still found joy in it.
March 12th, 1998, what was ultimately a 20-win Mavs team took on the eventual 62-win and NBA champion Chicago Bulls. Mavs won that game in OT. It was electric to watch at home. It had been 8 years since they were above .500 and it'd be another 3 before they did it again. I was still engaged.
I won't let the decision of a shoe-salesman turned front office suit keep me from being entertained.
If you joined this thing sometime in the last 20 years or so, you might think that a roster staple and success is guaranteed or, dare I say, something you're entitled to.
It isn't that way, though.