Dallas Mavericks icon Dirk Nowitzki was enjoying a family getaway in the Maldives when the unexpected news of the Luke Doncic-Anthony Davis trade reached him, causing his phone to buzz incessantly. He shared his reaction during an appearance at 96.7 The Ticket’s Ticketstock event.
Nowitzki, who played alongside Doncic for a season in Dallas, fostering a close mentorship, revealed that he exchanged texts with Doncic after the trade. Feeling for the young star's unforeseen situation, Nowitzki decided to attend Doncic's first game in Los Angeles as a gesture of support.
Nowitzki explained his decision, emphasizing his bond with Doncic: "I played with him in my last season. We got close. I tried to mentor him, I tried to help as much as I can in the last few years... He’s a good kid, so I felt like I had to go out there and support him in this new chapter." He acknowledged the surreal experience of seeing Doncic in a Lakers jersey, stating, "It was weird. It was surreal... I’ll never be a Lakers fan, but I must always be a Luka fan."
Doncic expressed his appreciation for Nowitzki's presence at his Lakers debut, describing it as "amazing." While Mavericks fans had hoped Doncic would follow in Nowitzki's footsteps and remain in Dallas for his entire career, the trade brought Anthony Davis to the Mavericks. Unfortunately, Davis suffered a groin injury shortly after joining the team and has been sidelined since.
The Mavericks and Lakers are scheduled to face off for the first time since the trade on Tuesday, February 25th.
