Heartbreaking Luka Doncic moment encompasses bond Spurs fans crave with Wemby

Drama has been a common theme in the NBA lately. The firing of head coaches who were preparing to take their teams into the playoffs and Stephen A. Smith beefing with LeBron James has dominated conversations when we should be talking about postseason matchups and the futures of the teams that didn't make it.

That's the kind of drama that makes you shake your head. But there's another kind of drama—the compelling kind. Like Luka Doncic returning to Dallas for the first time since he was shockingly shipped off to Hollywood for Anthony Davis without so much as a heads-up.

The NBA world stood still for a moment as everyone came to grips with what had just happened. Everybody, including the man himself, believed he would be a Maverick for his entire career. Ahead of the much-anticipated LA @ Dallas game tonight, the Mavs played a tribute video for their ex-franchise player. His reaction to it was predictable, but heartbreaking nonetheless.

Spurs fans hope to reach same bond Mavs fans had with Luka

Doncic could barely stand to watch the video as it played on the IMAX-size screen above. Reports immediately after the trade indicated the Slovenian maestro was in shambles. His depression was understandable. The Mavericks fans loved Luka just as much if not more it seemed than Dirk Nowitzki and Dirk brought them their only championship in franchise history (2011).

When you remember what Luka's career in blue and white has looked like, you can see why. Doncic was a force from the very beginning of his rookie season. He was a successful player overseas, dominating Euroleague basketball as a teenager before entering the NBA. When he did, he got buckets on just about everyone you placed in front of him.

Luka has also been one of the league's most clutch players whether it be in the regular season or the playoffs and he led them on playoff run after playoff run with his dynamic offensive ability. He's provided that fan base with some of the most exciting and memorable moments they've ever seen and he led them to the NBA Finals last season.

Victor Wembanyama hasn't had a chance to lead the Spurs to the playoffs yet, but we all know it's coming. He started dropping the jaws of fans from the start of his young career so that part is in alignment with the shock to the culture Luka brought when he crash-landed. The fact that Wembanyama is so likable has only made fans fall in love him him faster.

Watching the Dallas/Luka saga unfold is a glimpse into a couple of things: one, what pure mutual love between a fan base and player can look like, and two, how badly it hurts both parties if things go awry. The first one shows a bond that Spurs fans want to reach with Wembanyama. The second is a nightmare that feels worse than the Kawhi saga. Let's hope we never have to experience it.