Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki to attend Luka Doncic's Lakers debut

In case you were curious how the greatest Maverick of all time was feeling about the trade...

Apr 9, 2019; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic (77) and forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) come off the court during the game against the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Dirk Nowitzki has mostly stayed silent since the Dallas Mavericks shockingly traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last week, outside of a tweet with just a single emoji with the shocked face. Now that Luka Doncic is getting ready to make his debut for the Lakers, Nowitzki has decided where he stands on the deal.

NBA insider Marc Stein, and a good friend of Nowitzki's, has reported that Dirk Nowitzki is expected to be in Los Angeles on Monday night to watch Luka Doncic play his first game in the purple and gold. Nowitzki would later confirm that on Twitter/X.

I will always be a Mav for life, but had to come support my guy 77 @luka7doncic in the first game of his new chapter!

— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) February 11, 2025

READ MORE: Mavericks star Kyrie Irving named 2025 NBA All-Star replacement for Anthony Davis

Former NBA player Dirk Nowitzki before game three of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Peter Casey-Imagn Images

A few things are notable about this decision. First, the Mavericks play at home on Monday night against the Sacramento Kings. Second, Nowitzki has a statue outside of American Airlines Center with the phrase "Loyalty Never Fades Away" at the base of his iconic one-legged fade.

Loyalty faded last week from the Mavericks. Luka Doncic loved being in Dallas, and Dallas loved rooting on another European superstar. He genuinely thought he'd be a Maverick for life before he was traded in the middle of the night for a middling return. Nico Harrison decided Anthony Davis was a better "culture" fit with the Mavericks, whatever that means, and didn't discuss the trade with anyone except Patrick Dumont and Lakers GM Rob Pelinka.

Doncic will make his debut for the LA Lakers on Monday night against the Utah Jazz, his first game since suffering a calf strain against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas Day. He's taken extra time to recover and to make sure he gets back to 100% healthy, something he hasn't been in a long time. Apparently, the Mavericks took issue with that.

READ MORE: LeBron James' camp noticed how quickly Lakers acted to appease Luka Doncic after Mavericks trade

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