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Luka Doncic made a memorable debut with the Los Angeles Lakers, leading the team to a 132-113 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday.
Numerous celebrities attended the game at the crypto.com Arena to witness the Slovenian star in action, including his former teammate Dirk Nowitzki, who serves as a special advisor for the Dallas Mavericks.
“Though I’ll always be a Maverick at heart, I had to come out and back my guy, number 77, Luka Doncic, in his inaugural game for this new chapter,” Nowitzki, 46, shared about his presence via a post on X.
Returning from a left calf strain, the 25-year-old Doncic played for 23 minutes, contributing 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
“Incredibly, the way everyone—including my teammates and the front office—received me was amazing. I heard a lot of cheers when my name was called. I truly appreciate it,” Doncic reflected on his first Lakers game during a postgame interview with ESPN, calling it “a special moment.”
🥹 Luka Doncic executed the iconic Dirk Nowitzki fadeaway with him in attendance! pic.twitter.com/8Evnq8Z398
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) February 11, 2025
“He’s a fantastic friend and mentor. It means a lot to me that he came out to support,” Doncic added, expressing his gratitude towards Nowitzki.
“It was really a special moment; I could hear the enthusiastic welcoming when I was announced.”
Luka Doncic on his feelings about being a Laker 🥺 pic.twitter.com/80d5Rcb2Yl
— ESPN (@espn) February 11, 2025
Meanwhile, another European player option for head coach JJ Redick, German Maxi Kleber, is expected to remain out for several weeks following surgery on his right foot, as part of the major trade involving Doncic.
The Lakers, celebrating their sixth consecutive victory, moved to 32-19 in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, maintaining a 3.5-game lead in the top six, which secures playoff positioning. They will face the Jazz again in Delta Center on Wednesday for their final game before the All-Star break.
On the other side, Finnish player Lauri Markkanen recorded 17 points, three rebounds, one block, one steal, and one assist in 28 minutes. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not see any playing time.
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