Los Angeles Lakers celebrity Luka Doncic isn’t receiving a lot love from his former workforce, because the Dallas Mavericks’ social media workforce edited out the five-time All-Star guard in a current hype video on X.
Dallas Mavericks Changed Luka Doncic With A Silhouette And A Group Brand In Their Social Media Hype Video
The Mavericks posted a video on Friday that includes a number of gamers on the workforce, with Doncic seemingly changed by a silhouette and a workforce emblem briefly clips (at 1:15 and 1:52 within the video under).
Earlier this month, the Mavs traded Doncic to the Lakers in trade for a package deal involving Anthony Davis and a 2029 first-round decide. This surprising commerce got here a season after Doncic led Dallas to the NBA Finals.
The unique video on X was deleted by the Mavs on Friday at 9 p.m. ET.
“You possibly can think about how stunned I used to be,” Luka Doncic advised The Related Press after the commerce. “I needed to examine if it was April 1. I didn’t actually consider it.”
The Mavs may have edited Doncic out of the hype video to deal with the lively gamers. Nevertheless, Maxi Kleber and Quentin Grimes — who have been each traded away earlier than the deadline — are nonetheless seen within the video.
Former Mavericks worker Bobby Karalla additionally added on X that masking up former gamers in social media movies has been a longstanding workforce coverage:
Former workforce man right here! Yearly we needed to eliminate pictures of traded gamers representing the workforce ASAP throughout all media. Social, web site, movies, magazines, yearbook, and many others. They don’t work there anymore. I do know feelings are nonetheless excessive, however this isn’t something out of the norm. https://t.co/6C2gSgqPHG
— Bobby Karalla (@bobbykaralla) February 21, 2025
A number of Mavericks followers are persevering with to boycott video games. Three days after the commerce, Dallas misplaced practically a million Instagram followers, dropping the workforce’s complete from 5.3 million to 4.6 million.
Based on RotoGrinders, Doncic gained nearly 400,000 new Instagram followers throughout that span, whereas the Lakers noticed a rise of over 185,000 followers since touchdown the five-time All-NBA member.
Fan Backlash Continues In The Wake Of The Doncic Commerce
Lots of of followers gathered outdoors the American Airways Heart after the commerce to protest and mourn the lack of their Slovenian celebrity. Some supporters even introduced a casket and held a mock funeral for Doncic’s time with the workforce.
The Mavericks have additionally supplied refunds to followers who’ve canceled season tickets within the wake of the commerce.
Per Paul Livengood of WFAA Dallas, there was “at the very least one season ticket holder who requested for a ticket cancellation and will likely be getting a refund, in response to an e-mail correspondence between the ticket holder and a workforce worker.”
The refunds are for the Mavericks’ remaining house video games this season. Since Dallas had 16 house video games left this common season on the time of the report, the refund was valued at roughly $2,000.
Livengood additionally famous there was a GoFundMe began to boost cash to purchase billboards to let the Mavericks understand how upset they have been with the Doncic commerce. A brewery within the space additionally began promoting a “promote the workforce” beer.
“We worth each season ticket member relationship and reps can be found to take calls from members with any issues or questions,” Mavs vp of company communications Erin Finegold mentioned through textual content message.
Mavs Fan Ejected For Conflict With Mark Cuban Mulling Lawsuit
As well as, Mavericks fan Chris Taylor, who was among the many spectators ejected from the Feb. 3 matchup with the Sacramento Kings at American Airways Heart for a heated trade with minority proprietor Mark Cuban, advised TMZ Sports activities final Saturday that he’s mulling authorized motion over the incident.
To place it plainly, nothing has gone proper for Dallas because the commerce. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon mentioned the Mavs made the choice to maneuver on from Luka Doncic due to his “fixed conditioning points” in addition to the “looming dedication” of a contract extension through the 2025 offseason.
Doncic was eligible to obtain a five-year, $345 million extension in the summertime, in response to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. As a substitute, the 25-year-old can signal a five-year contract value $229 million with the Lakers.
Regardless of fan backlash, the Mavericks are nonetheless set to honor Doncic’s general tenure as a member of the group within the months forward. Dallas is reportedly planning a tribute video for Doncic when the Lakers journey to the American Airways Heart on April 9.
