The Dallas Mavericks’ controversial trade of Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers drew renewed scrutiny Wednesday night after the five-time All-NBA guard returned to American Airlines Center and torched his former team for 45 points in a 112-97 Lakers victory.

While the Mavericks’ front office, led by president of basketball operations Nico Harrison and team governor Patrick Dumont, has publicly stood behind the decision to deal Dončić, new reporting suggests the move wasn’t unanimously supported internally.

“I’ve heard that there was some level of pushback within the Harrison cabinet,” veteran NBA insider Marc Stein said on The Lowe Post podcast Thursday. “… I do think there was some level of debate within those walls. The exact extent, I can’t sit here and tell you that I know.”

Luka Dončić Trade with Los Angeles Lakers Has Been a Disaster for Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks’ rationale for trading Dončić has centered around concerns about his long-term conditioning and injury risk and a desire to shift toward a more defense-oriented identity. But watching the 26-year-old erupt for 45 points in front of a crowd that still cheers him like a hero raised fresh doubts about whether the Mavericks gave up on a generational talent too soon.

Dončić, who led Dallas to the NBA Finals last season and earned five first-team All-NBA selections in six years, was visibly emotional during a pregame tribute video that honored his time with the franchise.

Moments later, he channeled that energy into a vintage performance—burying tough shots, orchestrating the Lakers’ offense, and reminding the Mavericks faithful of the star they once built around.

In the aftermath of the trade, reports emerged that the Mavericks had become increasingly uneasy about offering Dončić a supermax extension due to concerns about his physical durability and commitment to conditioning.

Dallas instead opted for a blockbuster deal that landed Anthony Davis and Max Christie, betting on a new direction built around a more traditional defensive core.

But Dončić’s dominant return has reopened debate across the league, with many obviously questioning whether Dallas moved too soon on a player who remains in his prime and continues to raise the ceiling for any team he joins.

The Lakers, now surging with Dončić leading the charge, have climbed to third in the Western Conference standings. The Mavericks, meanwhile, are clinging to 10th and trying to avoid an early exit in the Play-In Tournament.