It's been months since the Dallas Mavericks shocked the NBA world by trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Even so, that's a wound that's not going to heal any time soon in Dallas, not even after landing Duke star Cooper Flagg.
That's why Mavericks fans won't want to check out their calendars on Sunday, as it will bring the pain back all over again.
As several fans pointed out on social media, July 6 was declared 'Luka Doncic Day' in Dallas back in 2021. Now it will be a yearly reminder of what could've been and his departure.
Doncic's monetary contributions to the city during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as his status as Dirk Nowitzki's heir-apparent and the face of the franchise, granted him this honor:
"Whereas, much like fellow European Dirk Nowitzki landed in our great city 20 years prior, Doncic has quickly become an adored and adopted North Texan," said County Judge Clay Jenkins at the time.
"Thank you for this honor Dallas County and MFFLs," Doncic wrote on X when the news broke.
The Mavs' decision to trade their franchise player was rather shocking, not only because they had just made it to the NBA Finals, but also because they didn't even explore his trade market.
The fact that the fans weren't pleased even after landing a future Hall of Famer like Anthony Davis spoke volumes about their love for Doncic.
Now, even though he's no longer hooping there, he will always have a special place in the fans' hearts, and he'll never have to pay for a meal in Dallas.