Basketball Hall of Fame member Dirk Nowitzki admitted that he, like most everyone else, was shocked that the Dallas Mavericks sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster trade earlier this month.
“I think I was as shocked and surprised as anyone was. … I really couldn’t believe it,” Nowitzki told 96.7 The Ticket in Dallas on Friday of his reaction to learning of the trade.
Nowitzki also shared his thoughts while texting with Doncic shortly after the deal.
“Of course I felt a little disappointed and sad for him, you know. I think he obviously didn’t see this coming,” Nowitzki said. “So he invited me to come out to his first game in L.A. and I felt like I had to support him.
“I think he was — I mean it was reported that — he was pretty down and disappointed in how it went down, and so I wanted to be there for him, I wanted to be there for his family. … I’m sure he wanted to finish his career like I did.”
Doncic, 25, began his NBA career in 2018-19, which coincidentally was Nowitzki’s final season of his 21-year career with the Mavericks.
Nowitzki, 46, was the NBA MVP following the 2006-07 campaign and a 14-time All-Star. He averaged 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists across 1,522 games (1,460 starts) with Dallas.
Five times a first-team All-NBA selection, Doncic is averaging 28.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 425 career games (all starts) with the Mavericks and Lakers.
In addition to Doncic, the Lakers received Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in the deal on Feb. 2, while the Mavericks picked up Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick.
The Utah Jazz also helped to facilitate the trade and received Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-round draft pick via the LA Clippers from the Lakers. Dallas also sent a 2025 second-round selection to Utah.