Is Luka Doncic playing tonight against Mavericks? Latest on Lakers superstar's status for 1st matchup vs former team after blockbuster trade (Feb. 25)

Luka Doncic will suit up for the Lakers in their highly anticipated matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. This will mark the first time Doncic faces his former team after the Dallas-based franchise made headlines by trading him to the Purple and Gold earlier this month.

The buildup to Doncic’s game against the Mavericks has been intense, with basketball fans eagerly anticipating how the Slovenian superstar will respond to being traded by Dallas. Fueled by the competitive fire within him, Doncic is sure to make a statement in this high-stakes game.

The Mavericks traded Doncic without informing him, a move that sent shockwaves through the basketball world. Even Doncic was caught off guard by the decision.

"You can imagine how surprised I was," Doncic said of the trade during his introductory press conference with the Lakers. "I had to check if it was April 1. I didn't really believe it."

"It was a big shock. (Dallas) was home, so it was really hard moments for me. … (But now) I get to play in the greatest club in the world, and I’m excited for this new journey."

The star point guard has played four games for the Lakers since his move to Los Angeles. His standout performance as a Laker came in the most recent game against the Denver Nuggets, where he scored 32 points.

Luka Doncic will be ready for the Dallas Mavericks

Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who knows Luka Doncic better than anyone on the Lakers roster, shared his thoughts on the superstar’s upcoming matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. Finney-Smith emphasized that Doncic will be ready for the game, but noted that his primary focus will be on securing the win.

"I’m excited. I know he’s (Doncic) gonna be ready," Finney-Smith said. "But I try not to put too much pressure on him. At the end of the day, I know we just want to get the win. If we get the win, I know he’ll be alright."

During his six-and-a-half seasons with the Mavericks, Doncic led the team to the NBA Finals last year. In his first six seasons, the five-time All-Star earned All-NBA First Team honors five times.