The trade that shocked the entire world of sports, especially the NBA, has not yet lost its steam, not even a little bit. Fans, especially Dallas Mavericks fans, are still in disbelief their team traded away 25-year-old international superstar Luka Dončić. It was a trade no one saw coming, including Mavericks and NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki.
Like everyone else, Nowitzki was in shock and disbelief when the team he spent 21 years with traded away their face of the franchise. It has been almost three weeks since the trade, and for the first time, Nowitzki spoke publicly about how he felt.
Nowitzki appeared at a 96.7 The Ticket rock live event and discussed his position on the Dončić to L.A. trade.
Dirk Nowitzki Expresses Lifelong Support for Lakers’ Luka Doncic
“When I saw the news, I was actually all across on the other side of the world. I was vacationing with the family in the Maldives. … Actually about to go to lunch and then we’re leaving that day to travel back and my phone starts blowing up.”
Dirk on his text exchange with Luka Doncic following the trade:
“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.”
“But you guys saw my face…it was weird.” pic.twitter.com/MGEUkI9fXH
— Michelle Montaine (@michmontaine) February 22, 2025
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The 14-time All-Star was as shocked as everyone else, but many were also shocked to see him at Dončić’s Lakers debut on Feb. 10 against the Utah Jazz.
The 2006-07 NBA MVP, Nowitzki said he received a personal invite from the former Dallas star and added that he would always support him in his new colors, although he’d never root for the team.
“Fast forward coming home, obviously Luka, we texted a bit. I felt a little disappointed and sad for him. He obviously didn’t see this coming. He invited me to come out to his first game in L.A. and I felt like I had to support him. I felt like I played with him in my last season. We got close. I tried to mentor him, I tried to help him as much as I can in the last few years.”
Nowitzki also added,
“He’s a good kid, so I felt like I had to go out there and support him in this new chapter. It was reported that he was pretty down and disappointed how it went down, so I wanted to be there for him. I wanted to be there for his family and show support. You guys saw my face, it was weird. It was surreal to see him play for the Lakers. I’ll never be a Lakers fan but I must always be a Luka fan.”
Dirk Nowitzki Expresses Lifelong Support for Lakers’ Luka Doncic
Dirk Nowitzki Reacts to Luka Doncic’s Lakers Debut
The 46-year-old German star shared that he would be attending a few hours before Dončić’s Lakers debut via X.
In his post, Nowitzki stated that he will always be a Maverick for life and was spotted a few rows above the court. The aftermath of the trad is something we did not foreshadow as the Dallas organization has thrown some shade towards Dončić. Nonetheless, what’s done is done, and only time will tell how this trade will work out for both sides involved.
Dirk is in the house for Luka’s Laker debut
UTA-LAL on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/0JyRHV9h0Y
— NBA (@NBA) February 11, 2025
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The Last Word
The Lakers are currently the fifth seed in the Western Conference with a 33-21 record. The Mavericks are 31-26 and sit as the eighth seed, 3.5 games back of L.A.
Dončić has played in three games for the Lakers and is averaging 14.7 points per game, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 26.7 minutes of action.
Photo credit: © Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
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