Luka Doncic will make his Los Angeles Lakers debut in Monday night's home game against the Utah Jazz.
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The former Mavericks' debut has been highly anticipated by fans since last week's stunning trade and is sure to garner attention from some big names - including an old friend from Dallas.
Nowitzki: 'Had to Come Support My Guy 77'
NBA Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki is expected to be in attendance his former teammate's first game donning purple and gold. Nowitzki confirmed those reports with a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, just hours before the game.
"I will always be a Mav for life, but had to come support my guy 77 [Don?i?] in the first game of his new chapter!" Nowitzki wrote on social media.
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!
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) February 11, 2025
Doncic Praises Dirk Nowitzki for Impacting His Career
Luka Doncic was drafted to the Dallas Mavericks in the final year of Dirk Nowitzki's career. In preparation for the inevitable passing of a baton, the two Euro-born players developed a bond steeped in mutual respect. Doncic elaborated on how much Dirk has meant to his career during the Mavs postseason run last year.
"I remember my first year when I came here it was surreal to be on the same team as Dirk Nowitzki," Doncic said. "I wish I could play with him more. His last season, my first, was an amazing experience. Helped me a lot especially coming into the NBA not knowing what to expect... So it helped me a lot seeing him work everyday even in his last season the amount of work he put in and everything."
