Naji Marshall urges Dallas not to focus on the past amid Luke’s return
Saturday night will certainly be emotional for Dallas Mavericks because it is the first time this season that Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers will make their way to the American Airlines Center. It’s also only the second time since the trade that Doncic has returned to face the Lakers. But before the game, the veteran Mavericks forward Find Marshall urged the team not to focus so much about the past, according to Ron Harrod Jr. from DLLS Mavs.
“I’m just living in the moment and continuing to do my job, and I know my teammates feel the same way,” Marshall said. “We weren’t the ones who got traded or fired, so it’s not something we should focus on that much. I know you build relationships with those people, you want the best for them, but like I said, taking care of those things, someone else is doing your job for you.”
In the period after the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the LakersThe Mavericks ended up getting the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, which they used to select Cooper Flagg. Flagg was a Rookie of the Year contender, but the Mavericks still haven’t been able to fully overcome the bitter taste left by the trade.
Earlier this season, the organization took a big step toward trying to remedy the situation by firing general manager Nick Harrison.
To make matters worse, Anthony Davis, the Mavericks’ center in the Doncic trade, was limited in availability due to injury. He is currently sidelined with a hand injury.
But The Mavericks hit recentlywinning three straight games and six of their last 10. They are 18-26 and are 12th in the Western Conference standings, a game and a half back of the 10th-ranked Clippers for a playoff spot.
2026-01-21 19:26:00
