Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) waves to fans after the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

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JJ Redick Had a Hilarious Take on Doncic After He Dropped 45 Against the Mavs

The return of Luka Doncic to the American Airlines Arena was one of the most anticipated events amongst fans, analysts, and some former/current players. Everybody wanted to see how Doncic would perform against his former team, and we got the answer. In his emotional return to Dallas, Doncic dropped 45 points against his former team and he finally looked like his vintage self, the further the game went along. The Mavericks are now 0-2 since they traded away Doncic to the Lakers, and we have not seen how the Mavericks actually look like, in full strength, since their star guard Kyrie Irving will not play anytime soon.

Doncic was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks as the 3rd overall pick of the 2018 draft and he played for the Mavs for seven seasons, before he was traded to the Lakers. The exchange of Doncic for Anthony Davis is still one of, if not, the most bizarre trades we’ve ever seen in the NBA. While Mavericks’ GM Nico Harrison stated that “defense wins championships,” as the reason that they traded Doncic away, we do wonder if it was worth trading a 26 year old superstar in his prime for a 32 year old who’s been battling injuries throughout his career.

"I don't know how I did it. Because when I was watching that video, I was like, 'There's no way I'm playing this game.'"

Luka Doncic after dropping 45 PTS in his emotional return to Dallas with the Lakers ❤️ pic.twitter.com/dJb1GFCT0n
— ESPN (@espn) April 10, 2025

Also Read: WATCH: Luka Doncic Gets Emotional Watching Tribute Video On Return to Dallas for the First Time Since Trade

JJ Redick’s Funny Reaction to Luka’s 45-Point Night

Lakers’ head coach JJ Redick had a hilarious take on Doncic’s 45-point performance as he said, “I thought he was gonna get 50… Disappointed.” We as fans expected to go off tonight against his former team and that’s exactly what he did. Not only did Doncic put up 45 points, but the win against the Mavericks tonight has secured the Lakers a playoff spot.

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The Lakers only have two more games remaining against the Houston Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lake show defeated the red hot Rockets team, the last time these two squared off. However, the Rockets have shown that they can beat anybody on any given night. If the playoffs were to start today, the 3rd seeded Lakers would have to take on the 6th seeded Rockets in the first round of the postseason.

Also Read: Nikola Jokic Next Team Odds: Will the Joker leave the Denver Nuggets to join Luka Doncic and LeBron James with LA Lakers?

Dallas Mavericks

JJ Redick

Los Angeles Lakers

Luka Doncic

NBA

Eric Divakaran

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I cover the National Football League and things cannot get better than that. I always dreamed to play football or basketball professionally since I’m built like a Running Back. But now that I can’t, since I’m technically in the “Unc” age, I thought why not pick a career in sports industry? So here I am, doing what I love, and hoping that the Commanders win the Super Bowl. I give love to players when it’s due, but can be critical about their performances at the same time. Enough about me, now let my articles do all the talking.