One of the most shocking moves in recent NBA history saw Luka Doncic traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. For Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki—the face of the franchise for over two decades—the news came as a complete surprise. Nowitzki, who has long been a mentor to Doncic, shared his immediate reaction and the steps he took after the trade.
As a franchise icon, Nowitzki played a pivotal role in helping Doncic adjust to the NBA and embrace his role as the face of the Mavericks. Even after the blockbuster trade, Dirk made it clear that his support for Luka remained unchanged. No one in Dallas expected a Doncic trade—not even Nowitzki. Like the rest of the basketball world, he was stunned. As soon as the news broke, he reached out to Luka.
“Of course, I immediately texted Luka. At first, he didn’t reply—understandable, he was probably a bit overwhelmed. In English, you’d say he had a lot going on,” Nowitzki said in an interview with his sister, Silke Mayer, on the 41 Campus podcast. “A day later, he finally responded. I think he was pretty emotional. He didn’t see it coming at all. And then I thought, it would be nice if I supported him at his first game.
“He hadn’t played for a while—he was injured himself. So, I flew to L.A. I just wanted to show him that our friendship still stands. We played together for a year—my last year—and I always tried to help him, be a mentor to him these past few years. I wanted to show him that I’m here for him, even though he’s somewhere else now. That we have a friendship, that I’m still there for him and his family.”
Doncic appreciates Nowitzki’s presence
Nowitzki was one of several former players and celebrities in attendance for Doncic’s Lakers debut on February 10 against the Utah Jazz. After the game, Luka expressed his gratitude for Dirk’s support.
“It meant a lot, man,” Doncic said. “For him to show up, [he’s] a great friend. Always looked up to him, [he’s a] great mentor. For him to fly all the way from Dallas was amazing. I really, really appreciated it.”
Where was Nowitzki when the trade happened?
Nowitzki, like many others, was caught off guard by the move. At the time, he was on vacation with his family, completely unaware that the Mavericks franchise-altering decision was unfolding.
“I was shocked,” Nowitzki told his sister on the 41 Campus podcast, via BasketNews.com. “We were in the Maldives, just relaxing at the beach. It was literally the last day, and I was in my room, about to pack my things. Then suddenly, my phone exploded with calls and messages from all over the world.
“I was so stunned that I just put everything aside. We were supposed to go for a quick lunch with the family before flying out, but instead, I sat in my room for an hour, scrolling through X, trying to figure out if it was real.”