Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was ESPN’s most viewed non-Christmas Day game of season

Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was ESPN’s most viewed non-Christmas Day game of season

We’re nearly two-and-a-half months past it, but the Luka Doncic trade still doesn’t feel real.

‘The 6-foot-7 guard returned to the Dallas for the first time Wednesday to play the Mavericks, who inexplicably traded him away days ahead of February’s trade deadline in what was viewed as arguably the most shocking trade in NBA History.

It was a very emotional return, but Doncic put on a show, finishing with a game-high 45 points–tying his season-high–on 7-of-10 shooting from 3-point range with eight rebounds, six assists and four steals. The night was unforgettable, especially for Mavericks fans who were loudly chanting, “Fire Nico (Harrison),” as the night went on.

Doncic’s highly anticipated return was the NBA’s most-watched non-Christmas Day game this season, drawing 2.26 million viewers, the network announced Thursday.

Luka Dončić's return to Dallas on Wednesday drew the largest non-Christmas #NBA audience on ESPN this season (2.26M avg. viewers) 🏀 pic.twitter.com/vedYlxKEPg

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 10, 2025

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The peak audience was roughly 2.8 million viewers, with the total audience up 71 percent versus any comparable game last season.

There has been a lot of consternation about the decline of the NBA’s viewership. There are many theories without a concrete answer; in all honesty, it’s likely a combination of myriad factors. Though for more reasons than one, it’s easy to see why this one attracts attention.

The Mavericks’ franchise will obviously continue to be affected negatively, as they’re projected to lose nine figures with several million being lost in revenue due to losing season-ticket holders, merchandise sales and sponsorships, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.

Wednesday night will be the most that anyone cares about the Mavericks for some time. We’re only beginning to see the fallout, but there’s a world where it continues to plummet over the next several years.

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