Luka Doncic has returned to Dallas twice since his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers on February 2, 2025. Both appearances at the American Airlines Center were emotional and drew significant fan and media attention.
The 26-year-old led the Lakers past the Dallas Mavericks 116-110 on January 24, 2026, at American Airlines Center. But a postgame moment with former teammate Naji Marshall drew just as much attention.
Marshall approached Doncic for a jersey swap after the final buzzer. The Slovenian star agreed but said they would only do it away from the cameras.
"Hey Naj, I'll send it back. I don't want to show my body," Doncic said with a smile.
The guard was not wearing an undershirt at the time of the request. He later confirmed he waited until they reached the tunnel to complete the swap.
"Obviously, I know what's out there. So, I didn't want to do it there," Doncic explained to reporters.
The 5-time All-Star finished with 33 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds in the win. His record against his former team improved to 4-0 with this victory.
Luka Doncic addresses body image critics after major weight loss
The guard reportedly lost over 30 pounds during the offseason through intense workouts. Dončić weighed 230 pounds with the Dallas Mavericks and the Lakers last season, but is now down to 200.
Doncic is currently the league's top scorer, averaging 33.6 points per game this season. As of January 31, 2026, he has surpassed Giannis Antetokounmpo in total points for the decade and leads the NBA in scoring per game.
The Duke of Dallas addressed the ongoing scrutiny directly after the game. "I bet all those people would change their spot to be in my spot," he stated.
The swap happened privately in the tunnel after the Lakers erased a 15-point deficit. The moment showed Doncic can handle personal talk with humor while staying focused on winning.
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