Luka Doncic made his return to Dallas as a Los Angeles Laker last night, helping secure a 112-97 win over his former team, the Mavericks. While Doncic had previously faced Dallas in February, this marked his first game back at the American Airlines Center since the blockbuster trade sent him to LA. And he didn’t disappoint — dropping an impressive 45 points.
After the game, Doncic shared warm moments with nearly all of his former teammates. However, it was a brief exchange with Mavericks center Daniel Gafford that raised eyebrows. Doncic teased, “We’ll play again. We’ll play again.” — a cryptic message that has sparked plenty of speculation among Lakers fans.
Doncic and Gafford had a productive partnership after the big man arrived in Dallas from Washington in early 2024. The two quickly developed strong on-court chemistry, helping lead the Mavericks to an NBA Finals appearance. However, that successful run came to an end this season when Doncic was dealt to Los Angeles.
With the Mavericks looking to shake up their roster this offseason — particularly their frontcourt — Gafford could be on the move. The team sees high potential in 21-year-old Dereck Lively II, and Gafford’s role may be expendable if Dallas decides to build around the younger center.
That said, there’s another possibility behind Doncic’s comments. Gafford has previously been considered as a candidate to join the Slovenian national team as a naturalized player. With EuroBasket 2025 on the horizon, Doncic might have been referring to a possible international reunion rather than an NBA one.
Still, the idea of Gafford reuniting with Doncic in Los Angeles is an intriguing one. The Lakers are in dire need of a reliable center, and Gafford’s strengths — lob-finishing, rim protection, and elite pick-and-roll efficiency — perfectly align with Doncic’s playmaking. While Gafford’s passing and decision-making are limited, his athleticism and defensive impact would fill a critical gap on LA’s roster.
Pairing Gafford with LeBron James and Austin Reaves could breathe new life into his career — a much more promising scenario than being caught in Dallas’s current frontcourt logjam