Klay Thompson Expects ‘Weird’ Mavs Home Game vs. Rockets After Luka Dončić Trade

Home-court advantage is typically a good thing in the NBA, but the crowd at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Saturday will be anything but a usual one.

It will be the first home game for the Dallas Mavericks since they traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, and Klay Thompson is prepared for a “weird” environment as his team takes on the Houston Rockets.

“Probably a lot of heartbreak amongst the fans,” he told reporters Thursday. “Probably some boos. But, as a professional, you have to embrace everything, and we’re paid to play this game and perform at the highest level.

“I don’t know what to expect. I know Luka was so dear to every Mavs fan’s heart. We’ve just got to win, and do it on a consistent basis, and give ourselves a chance to win the whole thing, and I think that will ease all of the fans’ pain and anger.

“It’s going to be weird, but that’s what we sign up for.”

Fans have already expressed their displeasure with the trade with a protest outside the stadium that included chants of “sell the team.”

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps noted there are more protests expected for Saturday in addition to a Go Fund Me campaign that has raised $40,000 in an effort to put up a billboard criticizing general manager Nico Harrison and the Adelson family, which purchased the team last year.

To call it a stunning trade would be an understatement, as Dončić was already a franchise icon at 25 years old. Getting Anthony Davis back at least meant the Mavericks landed another star player, but the big man is also 31 and has dealt with durability concerns a number of times.

The only way for the Mavericks to help their fans move on is by winning, and that is what they did Thursday with a 127-120 victory over the Boston Celtics.

Thompson poured in 25 points and will likely need to play a bigger role in the offense with Dončić now on the Lakers.