Arranged, NBA rumor: Doncic and the Lakers will face Davis and the Mavericks in the preseason

NBA rumored that Luca Doncic and Anthony Davis will be the protagonists of the Lakers' preseason game against the Mavericks in Las Vegas.

According to The Stein Line's Mark Stein, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks are expected to have an early preseason showdown in Las Vegas in October. This game will be another high-profile showdown between Luca Doncic and Anthony Davis, with the two being traded in a big deal in the 2024-25 season.

The game will be reportedly part of the NBA's efforts to continuously expand its preseason market presence in neutral venues, and Las Vegas will continue to be a key game location amid speculation about future league expansion. This exhibition game, which may be held in October, will also allow fans to know in advance how the two teams will adjust their rosters in the 2025-26 season.

Doncic and Davis faced each other for the first time since the trade on February 2, when the Lakers visited Dallas on April 9. After returning to the American Airlines Center, Doncic performed well, scoring 45 points, contributing 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. He made 16 of 28 shots in the game, including 7 of 10 three-pointers, helping the Lakers win 112-97.

Meanwhile, Davis scored 13 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block, shooting 5 of 13 shots.

Kyrie Irving is plagued by injuries, the Mavericks rely on Anthony Davis, the Lakers will reorganize the lineup, and Luca Doncic joins the two NBA best players, the core of the rare superstar swaps during the season, and this swap has reshape the pattern of the two teams. The Lakers introduced Doncic to partner with LeBron James, who rebounded strongly at the end of the season but eventually lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. With James ushering in his 23rd NBA season and Doncic has become the team's main star, the Los Angeles Lakers face a crucial offseason to strengthen the lineup.

On the other hand, the Dallas Mavericks lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2 of the playoff playoffs and nearly missed the playoffs. Davis is now at the heart of the Mavericks’ frontcourt, but he will face serious challenges in the upcoming season. Kyrie Irving is expected to miss most of the season due to a torn ACL in the late regular season, meaning the Mavericks will lose the partner for a long time.

This early match in the preseason may allow people to understand the future direction of the two teams. For the Lakers, this will be their first in-depth exploration of the new system built around Doncic; while the Mavericks are committed to building chemistry and continuing the team's offense in Davis' first full season with Dallas.

Although the specific date and broadcast information have not been released yet, this highly anticipated Las Vegas exhibition match has attracted widespread attention from the league. With the two NBA superstars wearing different uniforms, this preseason showdown is expected to become a major highlight of the fall season.