Luka Doncic won’t be the only former Dallas Mavericks star in Los Angeles on Monday night.
Doncic is expected to make his highly anticipated Lakers debut when his new team hosts the Utah Jazz. Last week, the Mavericks stunned everyone by trading the 25-year-old star for a package led by Anthony Davis.
Dallas showed more loyalty to Dirk Nowitzki, who spent his entire 21-year career with the organization. Although Doncic no longer plays for the Mavericks, Nowitzki will still cheer on his former teammate.
Nowitzki confirmed that he’s attending Doncic’s first Lakers game at Crypto.com Arena.
“I will always be a Mav for life, but had to come support my guy 77
@luka7doncic
in the first game of his new chapter!” Nowitzki wrote on social media.
Doncic began his career right as Nowitzki finished his in 2018-2019. The No. 3 pick won Rookie of the Year during Nowitzki’s last season.
The 14-time All-Star handed the franchise to Doncic, who has since made five All-NBA teams while averaging more points per game (28.65) than all players beyond Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Last year, he led Dallas to the NBA Finals for the first time since Nowitzki’s Mavs beat LeBron James’ Miami Heat in 2011 for the team’s only championship.
Everyone assumed Doncic would spend his entire career chasing Nowitzki’s franchise records in Dallas. Instead, he’ll join forces with LeBron in L.A. for the foreseeable future.
The trade appeared to surprise Nowitzki as much as most fans. “Loyalty never fades away” is printed underneath the legend’s statue outside of American Airlines Center, and he’s staying loyal to Doncic after the team didn’t take his quote to heart.
Nowitzki, who’s joining Prime Video’s new NBA team next season, will likely witness a packed and energized arena eager to watch Doncic. We’ll have to see if the 7-footer wears the yellow Lakers shirt with Doncic’s No. 77 that the team is giving all attendees. LeBron wore his during pre-game warmups
Monday’s game starts at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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