Luka Doncic's emotions were on display in his Mavs return — so was his dominance

 As the Dallas Mavericks' video tribute for Luka Doncic began, he gave a hand signal. 

He needed a towel.

The video showed Doncic being selected as the third overall pick in the 2018 draft by Atlanta, before being traded that day to Dallas. It showed him winning Rookie of the Year. It showed his amazing buzzer-beaters. His sense of humor. It showed his rise to becoming a five-time All-NBA player, who led his team to the Finals last season for the first time since 2011. It showed glimpses of his life over the last 6 1/2 years, a life that he had no idea was about to come to an end.  

Doncic's eyes welled up. He buried his face into the towel. He wiped his tears. It was one of the most profound displays of emotions from an active player in recent memory. 

There was something beautiful about it. 

Often, sports fandom is a one-sided endeavor. Fans pour out their hearts, celebrating their team's players. But that love often is unrequited. In a league where players are quick to demand trades, form super teams or go to the highest bidder, Doncic's love for Dallas stands out.  

And so does the way Dallas did him dirty.

Doncic came to Dallas when he was 18. He grew up there. He had no plans of leaving. But just over two months ago, the Mavericks broke every unwritten rule by trading a Top 3 player in his prime (then 25 years old) for the 32-year-old Anthony Davis.

This love story was mutual — and Doncic was the one who was unceremoniously dumped with a middle-of-the-night phone call. 

His heartbreak was on display from the moment he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1. And it was highlighted Wednesday, when his emotions were still raw long after the initial shock had subsided.  

Doncic was drying his tears until the