Doncic is averaging 33.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists in four career games against the Mavericks.
It's a question that all Dallas Mavericks fans asked themselves as they surveyed the team's full 2026-27 schedule that was released on Thursday:
When does Luka Doncic return home?
Doncic's Los Angeles Lakers play in Dallas just once this season, and it falls on a special day for the former Mavs superstar: Sunday, Feb. 28, his 28th birthday.
As expected for each meeting since Doncic's infamous trade away from Dallas in the dead of night in February 2025, the Mavs and Lakers will compete on national television, with this game set for a 2:30 p.m. tip-off on ABC at American Airlines Center.
In four career games playing against the Mavericks, Doncic is averaging 33.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists in 38 minutes of playing time.
Doncic's first return to Dallas was a rollercoaster. After shedding tears during a pregame tribute video, Doncic shredded through the Mavs defense on his way to 45 points, 8 rebound and 6 assists as the Lakers won 112-97.
Most recently, Luka scored 33 points and dished 11 assists in a 116-110 Los Angeles victory in Dallas on Jan. 24, 2026.
The Mavs will play in Los Angeles twice after Doncic's visit this season: March 21 (on NBC) and April 6.
The Slovenian playmaker is coming off leading the NBA in scoring at 33.5 points per game to earn his sixth All-NBA First Team and All-Star selections. Doncic finished fourth in MVP voting; it is the fourth time he's finished among the five finalists for the award.
The 2025-26 season is Doncic's second scoring title. His first came in 2023-24 (33.9 PPG), the season in which he led Dallas to its third-ever appearance in the NBA Finals and months before he was traded to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis (now with the Washington Wizards), Max Christie and a future first-round draft pick.
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Doncic averaged 28.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game in seven full seasons with the Mavs. He officially takes over the Lakers franchise - which was just shockingly sold for the second time in the last year - with LeBron James moving to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.
Doncic has played four games on his birthday, and this season will mark the fifth year in a row with a game on Feb. 28. Last year, he scored 26 points in a 129-101 Lakers win at Golden State.
He's averaging 29.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists on his birthday.
But something tells me his 28th will feel more personal than the rest.
