Last night, Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks faced off against Real Madrid Basket in a preseason friendly, marking a significant return for the Slovenian point guard, who was with the Madrid club from the age of 13 until his move to the NBA. The atmosphere was electric, with approximately 13,000 fans at the arena eagerly awaiting Dončić’s return to his former team.

Before the game, Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez, honored Dončić with a special membership badge, acknowledging his contributions to the club. “I don’t know what else to say; today is an incredibly special day. I’ve been looking forward to this game all summer,” Dončić shared. He expressed his joy at reuniting with old teammates and familiar faces, thanking the club for everything.

Several players from the Real Madrid men’s football team, including Toni Kroos, Lucas Vázquez, Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, Dani Ceballos, and Brahim Díaz, were also present to support the match at the Wizink Arena.

Although Dončić was not in peak physical condition due to a recent hip injury, he managed to play for about 5 minutes and scored 9 points. Ultimately, the Dallas Mavericks lost to Real Madrid Basket with a score of 123–127. This match marked the first preseason NBA friendly held in Madrid since 2016, when Dončić and Real Madrid Basket faced the Oklahoma City Thunder.