Although enough time has passed since Luka Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, fans are still struggling to process how recent events unfolded. Many members of the media and experts soon claimed that this was the most shocking trade in NBA history.
Dirk Nowitzki is a former NBA superstar and is considered by many as a legendary figure in the basketball community. Dirk spent his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks. He also had a good relationship with Luka Doncic and was a mentor to him.
With that being said, fans might be interested in hearing about what Dirk had to say on the subject of Luka being traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers.
Luka Dončić Invited Dirk Nowitzki to Witness His Los Angeles Lakers Debut
Fans who have been watching the Mavericks over the past few years will know that Dirk was able to share the court with Luka for one season. So he has seen what a rookie Dončić was capable of doing firsthand.
Although there clearly appears to have been problems between Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks upper management, others associated with the organization such as coaches, players, and fans likely don’t feel the same way.
Dirk recently revealed that he wanted to show support for Luka and did not decline when offered an invite for Doncic’s Los Angeles Lakers debut. This speaks to the fact that the two of them established a bond that went beyond the Mavs organization.
Dirk says Luka invited him to his first game as a Laker
“He invited me to come out to his first game in LA… He was pretty down & disappointed on how it went down, so I wanted to be there for him.” 😢
(Via @michmontaine )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 22, 2025
“We texted a bit of course. I felt a little disappointed and sad for him. I think he obviously didn’t see this coming. So he invited me to come out to his first game in LA and I felt like I had to support him…So I wanted to be there for him. I wanted to be there for his family and show support.”
While it is good to hear that Dirk is not on bad terms with Luka, he was unable to contain himself and stated that it was weird to see Dončić playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. After all, the Lakers have always been a team that Nowitzki viewed as the opposition.
This trade that involved Anthony Davis and Dončić has stunned NBA stars across the league. The media and fans were under the impression that the league was player-empowered and focused. However, trading away a star against his knowledge, consent and has sent a message to players.
