Camille Naredo

Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks poses with Dallas Mavericks Legend, Dirk Nowitzki after the game against the LA Clippers during Round 1, Game 2 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on May 25, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Juan Ocampo, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP 

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 25: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks poses with Dallas Mavericks Legend, Dirk Nowitzki after the game against the LA Clippers during Round 1, Game 2 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on May 25, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE   Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Juan Ocampo / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)

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2021 NBA Playoffs -Dallas Mavericks v LA Clippers

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1740290539700NBA_Nowitzki-Doncic_AFP.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks poses with Dallas Mavericks Legend, Dirk Nowitzki after the game against the LA Clippers during Round 1, Game 2 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on May 25, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Juan Ocampo, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks poses with Dallas Mavericks Legend, Dirk Nowitzki after the game against the LA Clippers during Round 1, Game 2 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on May 25, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. <em>Juan Ocampo, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP </em></span></span></span></div><p>LOS ANGELES -- Basketball Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki says he felt &quot;a little disappointed and sad&quot; for Luka Doncic after the Dallas Mavericks abruptly traded their franchise star to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal that shocked the NBA.</p><p>&quot;I think he obviously didn&#x27;t see this coming,&quot; said Germany&#x27;s Nowitzki, the 2007 NBA Most Valuable Player who earned NBA Finals MVP honors leading the Mavericks to the 2011 NBA title.</p><p>Speaking at 96.7 The Ticket radio&#x27;s Ticketstock event, Nowitzki said he had attended Doncic&#x27;s Lakers debut at the 25-year-old Slovenian&#x27;s invitation.</p><p>&quot;I felt like I had to support him,&quot; said Nowitzki, who played all of his 21 NBA seasons in Dallas and maintains a role with the Mavs as a special adviser.</p><p>&quot;I played with him my last season, we&#x27;ve gotten close. I&#x27;ve tried to mentor him, I&#x27;ve tried to help him as much as I can these last few years and he&#x27;s just, he&#x27;s a good kid.</p><p>&quot;It was surreal to see him play for the Lakers,&quot; Nowitzki added. &quot;At the end of the day I&#x27;ll never be a Lakers fan but I&#x27;ll also be a Luka fan.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/2/4/nba-doncic-hungry-for-titles-after-shock-lakers-trade-0236">READ: Doncic hungry for titles after shock Lakers trade</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2025/2/2/mavs-boss-defends-doncic-davis-deal-as-trade-stuns-nba-0718">READ: Mavs boss defends Doncic-Davis deal as trade stuns NBA</a></div><p>Nowitzki said that after the shock of the trade, which sent star power forward Anthony Davis to the Mavericks, he believes Doncic is now &quot;looking forward to the opportunity&quot; of playing alongside LeBron James with the Lakers, a club that has won 17 NBA titles.</p><p>&quot;He&#x27;s playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world,&quot; Nowitzki said, &quot;so I think he&#x27;s seeing the opportunity now.&quot;</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>'I think he obviously didn't see this coming,' Dirk Nowitzki said of the Luka Doncic trade.</p>

'I think he obviously didn't see this coming,' Dirk Nowitzki said of the Luka Doncic trade.

NBA: Nowitzki 'disappointed and sad' for Doncic after trade

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NBA: Nowitzki 'disappointed and sad' for Doncic after trade

Agence France-Presse

Published February 23, 2025 02:03 PM PHT

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