Lakers' Luka Doncic Talks 1st Game vs. Mavs After Trade: 'I'm Just Glad It's Over'

Of all the emotions Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić likely felt after facing his former team for the first time, relief was the one he expressed most clearly following L.A.'s 107-99 home win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

Speaking to reporters following the victory, Dončić let at least some of his feelings be known, saying: "It was just a lot of emotions and not much sleep. I can't even explain [it]. It was a different game. ... Sometimes I don't know what I was doing. And I'm just glad it's over, honestly."

Dončić, who turns 26 on Friday, was shockingly traded from the Mavs to the Lakers in a blockbuster deal for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick just over three weeks ago.

The trade came completely out of left field given that Dončić led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season and is among the top players in the league, having finished third in NBA MVP voting last year.

Dončić is still finding his footing just five games into his Lakers career, but he was a difference-maker Tuesday against his old team, recording a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists.

The Slovenian superstar showed plenty of love to his former Mavs teammates before and after the game, including guard Kyrie Irving, who Dončić referred to as his "hermano."

One person who Dončić did not acknowledge was the man chiefly responsible for his trade from Dallas to Los Angeles in Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison.

Harrison was on the sidelines during pregame warmups, but Dončić said he didn't see him.

Dončić's new superstar teammate, LeBron James, was seemingly impressed with how Luka was able to perform in the face of so many outside factors, saying he "handled it tremendously."

James led the Lakers with 27 points, as he and Dončić helped L.A. improve to 35-21 on the season, which is good for fourth place in the Western Conference, just two games out of second.

As emotional as things were for Dončić on Tuesday, it could reach a new level on April 9 when the Lakers go on the road to face the Mavericks in Dallas.

That will mark Luka's first game against the Mavs as a visiting player, and all signs point toward him receiving a warm reaction from the crowd given that the fanbase has made its unhappiness with the trade quite clear.