The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks have scheduled a preseason exhibition game in Las Vegas, a decision made independently by the two teams. This comes after one of the most controversial trades in sports history, where the Mavericks dealt Luka Dončić to the Lakers. Since the trade, the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, while the Mavericks won the NBA Draft lottery and are expected to select Duke phenom Cooper Flagg.
The exhibition game, set for October 15 at T-Mobile Arena, has sparked speculation about whether Dončić, Flagg, or both will play. The matchup is expected to draw more attention than a typical preseason contest, with both teams looking to capitalize on the hype.
The Lakers confirmed the game, noting that teams arrange their own preseason schedules and opponents. The NBA does not mandate a minimum number of preseason games, only that teams cannot play more than six each year. The regular-season schedule for the Lakers and Mavericks is yet to be determined, typically set in August. Until then, both teams will continue to generate buzz in Las Vegas.