Very few fan bases are more passionate about their teams than the city and surrounding areas of Dallas. Lately, that passion has often led to raised expectations and utter disappointment.
That pain became all too real earlier this year when the Dallas Mavericks shockingly sent star point guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team deal also involving the Utah Jazz that netted them former Lakers NBA champion Anthony Davis . The trade stunned a fanbase that thought they’d finally found their franchise cornerstone.
Although Davis is a fantastic player and a future Hall of Famer, he has been injury prone at times and is 32 years old while Dončić, who had ascended into one of the league’s very best players, is just 26 years old and figures to continue improving as he enters the prime of his career.
Plus, Dončić had just led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024, where they fell to the Boston Celtics in five games. The future looked extremely bright for the Mavericks with Dončić running the show, making the decision to deal him even more baffling and heartbreaking for Dallas fans.
Losing Dončić was tough enough for Dallas fans. But they may be about to relive that heartache, only on the gridiron this time around.
Is Micah Parsons Following in Luka Dončić’s Footsteps?
Fans of both the Cowboys and the Mavericks are feeling that familiar sting once again now that Dallas Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons has requested a trade.
Parsons took to social media to officially ask to be shipped out of Dallas after a lengthy contract dispute with the organization.
Thank you Dallas ! I pic.twitter.com/EUnEj9uRUt
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 1, 2025
Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones have had contract negotiations, but they have seemingly gone nowhere. That stalemate is giving Mavericks fans and the rest of the league flashbacks to the Dončić deal.
How Are Dallas Fans Reacting to Another Star Departure?
Fans have taken to social media to voice their opinions on Parsons’ decision and have drawn the obvious comparisons to Dončić. The parallels are impossible to ignore.
“Dang…” NBA Central posted, retweeting a picture of Dončić and Parsons exchanging their Dallas jerseys.
Dang…
(h/t @MavsFilmRoom ) pic.twitter.com/l2CVRFykjm
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 1, 2025
“End of an era. Dallas is cursed,” a fan responded.
End of an era. Dallas is cursed.
— M. (@Maxebm_) August 1, 2025
Another fan chimed in: “Dallas sports fans can’t catch a break.” Others agreed: “Nobody got it worse than Dallas fans.”
Dallas sports fans can’t catch a break
— 𝔹𝠤𝕝𝕨𝕣𝕝𝕕 (@BolWrld) August 1, 2025
“Dallas in shambles,” another declared. Others simply can’t believe they are going through this again so quickly: “City of Dallas gonna lose Luka Doncic and Micah Parsons in less than a year. I can’t believe this.”
City of Dallas gonna lose Luka Doncic and Micah Parsons in less than a year.
I can’t believe this. https://t.co/N9QFAMom19
— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) August 1, 2025
What Makes the Parsons Situation Different from Dončić’s Exit?
In what has seemingly become the norm in the Lone Star State, Dallas fans are bracing for yet another heartbreak as one of the league’s very best players in Parsons appears to be on his way out. The pattern feels depressingly familiar.
However, this situation has a slightly different feel than the Dončić trade. That deal seemed to come out of nowhere with no public indications that he wanted out of Dallas. Teams weren’t even notified that Dončić was on the block before the trade happened.
Now that the breakup between Parsons and the Cowboys has become so public, teams will likely be lining up to try to deal for Parsons. The writing has been on the wall for weeks as contract talks stalled.
Still, if this ends up with Parsons in a different uniform this season, the outcome will be just as devastating for Dallas fans. Two superstars, two different sports, one heartbroken city. That’s just Dallas sports in 2025.
