By James Mario Ajero
Considered by fans as the most-hyped NBA game of the season so far, the Dallas Mavericks’ visit to the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles did not disappoint as the match’s viewership broke multiple television records.
The sudden twist of fate for Luka Doncic captured the imagination of many NBA fans, evident in the Laker fans’ enthusiasm for accepting the young superstar – who they expect to lead their beloved franchise to glory again – as one of their own.
Though Doncic’s move to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis makes the Western Conference more unpredictable than ever, the league’s popularity appears to be on an upward curve after tumultuous months of low viewership.
On-court rivalry sparks interest
After the Lakers claimed a 107-99 win over the Mavericks, TNT Sports reported that an average of 2.5 million viewers tuned in for the showdown on their sports platforms, peaking at 2.9 million.
Excluding the opening night, Doncic’s reunion with his Dallas teammates became the most-watched NBA regular season cable telecast on Max of all time.
The Slovenian star padded his stat sheet with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists while orchestrating the Lakers’ offense.
According to TNT, the game was the most viewed event among the 18-34, 25-54, and adults under 50 age groups. April 9 is the next anticipated date for LA and Dallas fans as the teams duke it out one last time in the regular season.
Words of love and taunts
While Dallas fans were up in arms the moment the news broke, Mavericks GM Nico Harrison’s move to swap Doncic for Davis seemed to have had the opposite effect on avid Lakers followers – and they were quick to voice their gratitude for the embattled GM.
Chants of “Thank you Nico” echoed round the court during the Lakers-Mavericks game, and the crowd became exceptionally loud when Doncic was sent into the free-throw line to shoot for freebies.
Davis, who did not play due to a left adductor strain, made significant contributions for Los Angeles, especially during the team’s championship run in bubble NBA 2020. But landing a 25-year-old superstar is simply an opportunity that even teams as prominent as the Lakers could not pass up.
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According to an article by Clutchpoints, Harrison reiterated his commitment to prove his critics wrong. The report said that the new Dallas pariah has privately and publicly claimed that he felt that Davis is simply the better fit in the culture that the Mavericks want to build.
The King on the sidelines
With the spotlight focused on Doncic and the Mavericks, LeBron James continues to defy expectations as he displays another fantastic performance in front of LA fans.
Shooting an efficient 11-for-17, James dominated with 27 markers, 16 of which were made in the Lakers’ crucial fourth-quarter offensive run to get their 35th win as a fifth seed in the West.
Despite James being renowned for his longevity, NBA fans have a popular saying: Father Time is unbeatable. No matter how great the physical talent and skills are, age will soon catch up. It is simply an inevitable event that all NBA players must face at some point in their careers.
The road may still be long for “The King,” but a crowned prince in Doncic will surely keep the Laker gears rolling once James permanently retires from the game.
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Ren Azrack Escosio 
Jheruleene Anne Ramos