Luka Dončić was formally introduced as a Los Angeles Laker after the Dallas Mavericks dealt him in the most shocking trade in NBA history. Today, the 25-year-old superstar (who turns 26 this week) will face his former team for the first time.

DALLAS — As North Texas bids farewell to one of its greatest basketball stars, a vibrant mural dedicated to former Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić was unveiled Friday, just in time for his 26th birthday.

During his post-game interview, the 40-year-old veteran offered insights into Dončić's performance and the emotional challenges of playing against old teammates.

This article was originally published by our content partners at the Dallas Business Journal. You can read the original article here. In the aftermath of the Dallas Mavericks' shocking trade of Luka Dončić to the Lakers,

Weeks before trading Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package headlined by Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison reached out to the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick.

LUKA DONČIĆ AND THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS You cannot convince me that Luka Dončić didn't want this one, and not just the W. In front of the man who shipped him out of Dallas earlier this month, the Los Angeles Lakers' heir apparent picked up his first triple-double as a member of the purple-and-gold last night -- and in the first meeting against his old club no less.

Instead of a goodbye Luka, it’s a thank you,” said Armando Aguirre, one of the artists who worked on the mural in the Tin District.

Luka Dončić as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards as a Dallas Maverick? It was a thought pursued by Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick.

Dončić has his own history against the Clippers, a team he hasn't seen since he shut the door on an era last spring.

The Los Angeles basketball rivalry was bound to get more interesting with Luka Dončić on the Lakers, and he delivered on Friday. The Slovenian star nearly set a new high in his Lakers career with 31 points against the Los Angeles Clippers,

People within the league continue to believe that Dallas made a grave mistake in dealing its young superstar. Tuesday's game showed why.