Luka Doncic, a top-tier young star on the Mavericks team, possessed unparalleled fame and face value when wearing a Mavericks jersey. So, no doubt when he traded to the Lakers, it generated incremental revenue as well as ratings for Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, this impacted his old team, the Mavs, very badly. Reports say that Luka Doncic’s trade to the Lakers cost the Mavericks almost half of their ticket revenue.
When the Dallas Mavericks picked Doncic in 2018, they thought he would become their star player after Dirk Nowitzki. However, his departure from the Mavs has left the team grappling with revenue issues. According to TickPick, the average price of Mavericks home game tickets has dropped by 40%, from $187 to $112.
Average Purchase Price Before & After Luka Trade:
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 26, 2025
Lakers Home Games:
Before Trade: $253
After Trade: $303 (+19%)
Mavs Home Games:
Before Trade: $187
After Trade: $112 (-40%)
(Via @TickPick ) pic.twitter.com/R882ZvIllw
Meanwhile, the Lakers have gained Doncic as their new star, joining LeBron James. This helps the Lakers grow even more. Doncic’s debut already brought in 2.01 million viewers on ESPN, with a peak of 2.55 million in the second quarter.
This is just the beginning, and the Lakers are already seeing a huge boost in ticket sales.
Lakers’ ticket sales surge after acquiring Luka Doncic
When Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers, the Mavericks had to refund season tickets to fans who had already paid to see him play in a Mavs jersey.
This single event made it clear that trading a star like Luka to Los Angeles would come with a high price, and that’s exactly what’s happening now with the Mavs.
More Proof The Mavs Completely Fucked Up The Luka Doncic Trade – They Are Refunding $2,000 To Fans Who Want To Cancel Season Tickets pic.twitter.com/IE73Q4nHrs
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 4, 2025
On the other hand, the Lakers are seeing growth. While Mavs ticket sales have dropped by 40%, the Lakers’ ticket sales have gone up by 19%. Plus, Luka’s new No. 77 Lakers jersey is flying off the shelves, with long lines of fans eager to buy it.
