Austin Reaves hilariously steals Doncic's spotlight in lighthearted pregame moment

The NBA story that everyone is paying attention to tonight is Luka Doncic playing his first game back in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Austin Reaves did not want to be overlooked before the game started.

Doncic knew his first road game against the Dallas Mavericks was going to be emotional. It was certainly all that and then some when the Lakers superstar shed a tear during the tribute video that the organization had for him. This night would not be exclusive to those kinds of emotions.

Sometimes it's important to have fun on a stage that is so very clearly not meant for you. At the very least, that's what Reaves may have been thinking in a hilarious pregame moment.

Reaves steals the show from Doncic

To the credit of Mavericks fans in the building, they have made sure that Doncic can hear them throughout this evening. The crowd has drowned the man who took them to the NBA Finals last season with loud cheers and applause. Reaves may have been feeling a little left out.

The other Lakers guard was happy to step in, take a bow, and pump up the crowd as a thank you. Reaves was clearly feeling the love from the American Airlines Center.

With such a big stage like this emotionally-charged matchup between the Lakers and Mavericks, it is important to have a a lighthearted moment like this and not let everything be so serious. Basketball, like any other sport, is supposed to be entertaining and enjoyable, something that warms the soul. Reaves certainly made it that way before the ball even tipped off.