Dallas is a sports city. Period. From the Cowboys’ star to the Mavericks’ hardwood, fans in Big D show up, show love, and show loyalty. But in return, they’ve been handed nothing but frustration—and now, potentially, heartbreak.
On February 1, 2025, the Mavericks made a franchise-altering decision: they traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. A generational player. A fan favorite. Gone. And now, just months later, the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive superstar Micah Parsons has officially requested a trade due to stalled contract talks, casting a shadow over training camp in Oxnard, California.
“You don’t let a player like Luka go unless you’ve completely lost the plot,” said Mavericks season-ticket holder Chris Delgado. “It’s like the front office gave up on winning.”
The impact of Luka’s departure hasn’t just shaken the fanbase—it’s shaken the locker room, too. New Mavericks forward Naji Marshall, who joined the team in free agency, shared an emotional reaction when asked about losing Dončić.
“I was hurt, man. Luka is my dog, for real,” Marshall said, via Sports Illustrated. “As far as just personally, I just was hurt to lose Luka, man.”
The Mavericks’ core has been left reeling, and for now, there’s no clear path forward. But the situation unfolding with the Cowboys may be just as alarming.
Micah Parsons, the Cowboys’ heartbeat on defense and arguably the most explosive edge rusher in football, has grown tired of waiting. Despite Pro Bowl seasons and Defensive Player of the Year buzz, the team has yet to finalize a long-term deal—and he wants out.
His teammates are clearly behind him. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb made his feelings known shortly after reports of the trade request surfaced.
“Never fails, dawg,” Lamb posted on X. “Just pay the man what you owe him. No need for the extra-curricular.”
The frustrations aren’t just internal—they reflect what fans in Dallas have been feeling for years: a lack of urgency and competence from the very top—losing Luka? Devastating. Watching Micah walk, too? Unforgivable.
Two franchise talents. Gone or on their way out. And for what?
Right now, it’s the fans—those who’ve been riding for these teams through thick and thin—who are left picking up the emotional pieces.
Dallas deserves better. Much better.
And if this pattern of front-office failure continues, it won’t just be Luka and Micah walking away. It’ll be the fans, too.